The book tells the story of Don Mitchell, a Militiaman who served in New Guinea during World War II. The book is a narrative derived from diary entries and letters written by Don before and during the war. Much has been written about the Militia soldiers who fought on the Kokoda Trail and other areas of New Guinea in World War II, particularly about how they were considered tobe badly trained and unwilling fighters. While the Militia came to be known as “Chocos””