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Soldier Fought WWII For 30 Years After War's End
3 May
Summary
- Hiroo Onoda hid in jungles for nearly 30 years, believing WWII was ongoing.
- He survived on coconuts and rice, raiding villages for sustenance.
- Onoda surrendered in 1974 after his commanding officer ordered him to stand down.
Deep in the jungles of the Philippines, one Japanese soldier continued a war that had officially ended decades earlier. Hiroo Onoda remained hidden on Lubang Island for nearly 30 years, convinced the war had not ended. He was sent to the island in December 1944 with strict orders not to surrender or take his own life.
After Japan surrendered in August 1945, Onoda dismissed surrender leaflets as propaganda. He and his companions subsisted on bananas and coconuts, raiding villages and killing at least 30 people. The group dwindled over time due to battles and hardship.
In 1974, adventurer Norio Suzuki found Onoda and eventually brought his former commander to the island. On March 9, 1974, Onoda finally surrendered, nearly 30 years after the war's official end. Upon returning to Japan, he was celebrated, though controversy remains regarding his loyalty and violent actions.
