His
other grandfather, Carl R. Thien was a combat photographer and soldier
in the US Army, serving in combat with the 201st Counter Intelligence
Corps, in Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia and the Philippines. The
story of Thien's Army service was the subject of Taylan's 1994 book No
Place For A Picnic, an illustrated novel about his grandfather's
wartime service and the resultant relationship fostered between grandfather
and grandson. After publication, the book was awarded prominent accolades
and reviews, including placement in the prestigious selection list
for the New York Public Library. It was also favorably reviewed in
the Washington Post and Voice of Youth Advocates, and in 1996 was
selected by the New York Public Library as a feature book.
To research
the book, Justin and his grandfather returned to the places the latter
had during his war service in Australia and New Guinea - the first time
since WWII he had returned. During that remarkable visit, Justin was
staggered to still see the remains of war everywhere in New Guinea -
bomb craters, remains of aircraft and abandoned army equipment. These
observations sparked a burning desire to learn the history of these
"Pacific Wrecks" - how they got there, and how and why they
lie undisturbed to this day.
In 1997
Justin began utilizing the internet for research, and established
the site Pacific
Wreck Database. The website began as a database of
Pacific wreckage and quickly grew with the help of veterans, authors,
experts and travelers from around the world. Today, the site has
become a huge community of participants and collaborators and to
its own credit has assisted in the discovery of "new" wreck
sites, identification of others, returning artifacts such as photographs
and dog tags, and reuniting former aircrews. It has a puritanical
and idealistic mission as well, for it advocates the protection
of these sites, and actively discourages illegal salvage or destruction
of these priceless relics.