Japan WWII soldier who hid in jungle until 1974 dies

Yahoo News ^ | Jan. 17, 2014 | Jiji Press/AFP/File

[Anton.Rutter]

A Japanese soldier who hid in the Philippine jungle for three decades, refusing to believe World War II was over until his former commander returned and ordered him to surrender, has died in Tokyo aged 91.

Hiroo Onoda waged a guerilla campaign in Lubang Island near Luzon until he was finally persuaded in 1974 that peace had broken out, ignoring leaflet drops and successive attempts to convince him the Imperial Army had been defeated. (AFP)

[Anton.Rutter]

The last true believer.

[Red Badger]

They sure owed him a lot of back pay....................

[albie]

Snappy dresser

[TurboZamboni]

He was a Gilligan’s Island episode once.

[2ndDivisionVet]

I have no problem with a man who believes in honor and duty to his country. We need more of them.

[Red Badger]

He didn’t surrender until waaay after Gilligan’s Island had been cancelled.................but there were others in his same situation before Gilligan.................

[moose07]

Thanks, Anton.
Having read his book, years ago, you realise just what a survivor has truly was.
Worth a read.

[sickoflibs]

RE :”He was a Gilligan’s Island episode once.”

AHHH, you beat me to it. He made it to Gilligan’s Island.

Ginger smacked him in the face for getting fresh, those imperial Japanese had no manners.

[George from New England]

Did they ever make a movie ?

[DannyTN]

tenacity

[Repeat Offender]

No war is over until the enemy says it’s over. We may think it over, we may declare it over, but in fact, the enemy gets a vote. - General James Mattis

[Vaquero]

He was a Gilligan’s Island episode once.

Yeah. The actor was Mako, I believe

[max americana]

We have offices in the Philippines. Once our driver pointed out the specific island where this dude hid. Not only that, the enemy hid even in jungles the close provinces to Manila when the Americans were closing in. I recommend visiting Corregidor where the US Forces and RP soldiers were left behind to defend. Everything’s unchanged except the electricity wires in the tunnels.

[mountn man]

My first thought too.

Shtop...You shteaming up my gwasses.

[mountn man]

Vito Scotti

[Theoria]

Thanks for the post, I was just getting ready to post this one.

[Dagnabitt]

The Japanese Imperial Army was good at murdering civilians.

This guy kept up that tradition well past 1945. And for that he’s a hero?

No sale.

[Puppage]

He was a Gilligan’s Island episode once.

AND, an episode of The Six Million Dollar Man

[gundog]

Four Gilligan’s, 3 as the Japanese sailor