YOUR KOKODA TRAIL HISTORIAN
WALLACE "SOC" KIENZLE
(CLICK HERE - TO READ SOC'S SPEECH AT KOKODA DAY CEREMONY - SHERWOOD RSL - 10TH AUGUST 2008)
(CLICK HERE - TO READ SYDNEY MORNING HERALD ARTICLE ABOUT SOC & BERT KIENZLE)
Soc Kienzle is the youngest son of Captain Bert Kienzle the man who has been given accolades like "Architect of the Kokoda Trail" and "King of the Angels".
Bert's contribution to the Kokoda Trail Campaign is well documented but what many don't realize is that he was at Kokoda for 8 years before the War, throughout the War, and for 35 years afterwards. He was literally fighting for his home which he saw from a distance go up in smoke when the Japanese occupied, trashed and burned it. After the end of World War II , he stayed on in Kokoda to rebuild and expand his Rubber & Cocoa plantations while significantly contributing to the development of Papua New Guinea, the Nation.
Soc Kienzle was born in Port Moresby Hospital in 1950. He grew up, lived and worked at Kokoda until 1983. He spoke Motu ( the true language of the Papuan people - not Pidgin) and Koiari before he spoke English. The greatest compliment that was paid to Soc on a recent visit to Kokoda was when a PNG National said .....
".......if you were on the other side of a wall speaking Motu I would think you were a Papuan".
CLICK HERE - TO READ A TREKKER'S EXPERIENCE WITH SOC KIENZLE AT KOKODA
As a child, Soc explored the jungle with th e "fuzzy wuzzies" and their families, searching for war relics on the battle sites his father would describe. Much of what is and was in the Kokoda Museum was found by him, including the Japanese Mountain Gun now located next to the Japanese memorial on the Kokoda plateau.
At the age of 13, Soc set the record for a non-national "man" when he crossed the Trail, from MacDonald's Corner to Kokoda in 33 hours (approx 30 hrs from Ower'sCorner) including 6 hours sleep at Kagi. Over the ensuing years he traversed different parts of the track helping drove the first cattle to native blocks and on aircraft search and rescue missions. He knows the true war Trail, much of which is no longer being used, better than anyone.
Soc's love of Kokoda did not begin with reading a book although he has read every one that has been written about the Campaign! His passion for Kokoda and its people is in his blood and his desire to maintain the integrity of the Trail is borne for this reason and out of deep respect for his father, the Papuans and the diggers.
Traversing the Kokoda Trail with Soc entertaining you with stories of the war, and many other tales only he can tell, is an experience you will never forget and one which cannot be matched.
His rapport with the nationals as he talks and jokes with them in Motu will fascinate and amaze you and give you an insight into the local people, their humour and their culture that again, cannot be matched.
Learn from a Local !
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