041_cut

Oh there were many, not here, but in Santo. At the time of the war, there were lots of Americans, not here, but in Santo.

041-001 O , rulaap , esa ruta laap mau , me Esanr . [ edited ] Go mal ni nafkal nam̃er ni America rulaap , esa ruta laap mau , me Esanr .

Black men and white men. Army and navy, all different men.

[/ edited ] § 041-002 Nam̃er got me nam̃er taar . Nevi , Ami nametrau nam̃er fserser .

They had their women who came too. They had 500 women with them.

§ 041-003 Rupo piatlak nmatu gar nen rumai . Nmatu gar nen rumai , rutkal faef handred .

They were the officers' wives.

§ 041-004 Me nmatu nen rupi nmatu ni nafet ofisa .

They came, they were good, they were happy to meet any man. They come driving or they meet you or they take you in the car.

Rumai , § 041-005 ruwi , rusemsem lek patlas natam̃ol . Me rutraef mai ko rufatlasik rumsagik .

You say, "Where are you going?", "Okay". With them for three months.

§ 041-006 Kuna , " P̃afak sua ?" " Ore ". Skotir atlag itol .

They were good men. They were very rich.

§ 041-007 Rupi nam̃er wi . Nafisoklepwen gar itop .

You know America, they say to do exercises, we do exercises. They say we'll play baseball, we played baseball.

Kutae America , § 041-008 runa kopan eksesaes , pak eksesaes pa . Runa kofan mes baseball , upak baseball pa .

They say we'll go for a wander, we went for a wander.

§ 041-009 Una kopan sari , upan sari .

Or they say, we'll drink, we all wear uniforms and we go and drink.

§ 041-010 Ko runa kopan min upa unomser oof uniform upan min .

They were good to me, then they said, "This week we'll go to the Solomons. Don't be scared."

§ 041-011 Rupanpan rutrau wi top ki wou , panpanpan runa , " Wik nentu tukfak Solomon . Kuta mtak mau ".

I said, "I signed up for death, if I die, I'm dead, if I live, I'm alive." But the government heard and they sent me to Suranta.

Ana 041-012 " Kaipe saen reki , laef , laef ." Me kafman m̃as nmaten malen kin , inrogo , ded go ipul , wou ded ki , Suranta § .

There was a shortage of men. But they were lying as they didn't want me to go (to the Solomons).

§ 041-013 Go ipiatlak natam̃ool rusot . Me ito psir me imalkin apa .

If I went, I would be like Jimmy Stevens, or I would be dead in the Solomons.

§ 041-014 Af mer pa me afla lakor wel Jimmy Steven ko af lakor mat Solomon .

That's my life. Until today when I am 77 years old.

§ 041-015 Ipi esuan nam̃olien neu . Kin mai kin itu san to . Panpan pak mees ne , apitlak ntau 77 .

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