Second Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda
interesting story heard during "intro to japanese studies" lecture on thurs:"Second Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda, a former Japanese army intelligence officer, was stationed on Lubang Island in the Philippines during the World War II. When WWII finally ended in 1945, he did not believe that the war was over---despite the efforts of the Philippine Army, radio broadcasts, and letters and newspapers which were dropped over the island.
For 29 years, he refused to surrender, dismissing every attempt to convince him that the war was over as a ruse. In 1960, Onoda was declared legally dead in Japan.
On February 20, 1974, Onoda encountered a young Japanese university dropout named Norio Suzuki who was on a travelling trip. Despite Suzuki's explanation that the war was really over, Onoda still refused to accept the fact till he received orders to lay down his arms from his superior officer. Suzuki offered his help, and returned to Japan with photographs of himself and Onoda as proof of their encounter.
In 1974, the Japanese government managed to locate Onoda's commanding officer, Major Taniguchi, who had since become a bookseller. He flew to Lubang and informed Onoda of the defeat of Japan in WWII, ordering him to lay down his arms.
29 years after the end of WW II and 15 years after being declared legally dead, Lieutenant Onoda finally emerged from the jungle and accepted the commanding officer's order of surrender in his uniform and sword, with his Arisaka rifle still in operating condition, 500 rounds of ammunitin and several hand grenades.
Subseuently, he returned to Japan to receive a hero’s welcome, and world media attention, and was hounded by the curious public everywhere he went. He later wrote his memories of survival in "No Surrender: My Thrity Year War"..."
---- A soldier who fought and survived the war's longest, loneliest battle
posted by tauhuay_02 @ 9:37 AM
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