Defence Force bomb disposal expert Steven honoured before retiring

The National People

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
CHIEF Petty Officer Steven Yamun is bowing out of the Defence Force after being honoured by Missy Kwin with the British Empire Medal (BEM) for his 41 years of service in the Defence Force clearing unexploded bombs.
“I’m the last of the Australian-trained naval divers and bomb specialist in the PNGDF. All my mates who were trained with me have already left the military. So I’m happy that the Queen honoured me on her birthday this year with this medal.”
CPO Steven, 59, is from Awar village in the Bogia district of Madang. He has four sons and one daughter. One of his sons is now also a member of the PNGDF. He lives with his family at the Taurama barracks which he will vacate as soon he receives his final entitlement and repatriation funds.
He had spent most of his 41 years in the military clearing unexplored bombs on land and out at sea around the country.
COP Steven joined the force as a private and rose up the ranks to retire as a Chief Petty Officer (Warrant Officer).
He was 18 when recruited in 1980 after completing Form Four (Grade 10) at the Bogia Catholic High School (now Malala Secondary School).
“After six months basic infantry training at the Goldie River training depot outside Port Moresby, I was posted to the Second Battalion of the Pacific Island Regiment at the Moem Barracks in East Sepik.”
He was among the PNG soldiers picked to travel to Vanuatu to quell an uprising there.\
“I must admit that I was nervous to be deployed and almost deserted the military. I went to Vanuatu as an inexperienced and a nervous young soldier.”
But he learnt a lot from that experience and returned home with the courage and determination to be prepared to undertake such dangerous military missions.
After six years at Moem barracks, he was accepted to be trained as a navy diver and bomb ordnance specialist in the Defence Force.

“ I’m the last of the Australian-trained naval divers and bomb specialist in the PNGDF. All my mates who were trained with me have already left the military. So I’m happy that the Queen honoured me on her birthday this year with this medal.”
Retired Defence Force Chief Petty Officer Steven Yamun receiving his medal from the Governor-General Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae during the investiture ceremony at Government House in Port Moresby on Wednesday. – Nationalpic by JOEL HAMARI

“So I came to Landcron (HMPNGS Basilisk) in Port Moresby in 1987 and did a basic diving and bomb ordnance course for three months.
“I was then sent to the Naval Base at Lombrum, Manus to do basic seamanship courses for another three months.
“In 1989, I was sent to Australia to do advance diving and bomb ordnance course at the HMAS Penguin Naval Barracks in Sydney.”
On his return, he joined the soldiers involved in the Bougainville crisis. He also began his work clearing unexploded bombs around the country left behind after the Second World War.
“I was also engaged in projects like diving and clearing out the sea bed for the construction of the LNG plant site wharf at Papa and the construction of the international wharf at Motukea. Both sites are outside of Port Moresby.”
At Government House last week, CPO Steven Yamun BEM saluted Sir Bob when receiving his medal during the investiture ceremony last Wednesday.
He is the last of the Australian Navy-trained underwater bomb explosive experts being honoured and thanked by Missy Kwin and the country for a job well done.
“This investiture ceremony is the last time for me to wear my uniform as I am now retired.”
Thanks for your service CPO Steven Yamun.