Japan WWII soldier who hid in jungle until 1974 dies
Jiji Press/AFP/File Jan 17, 2014
This picture taken on March 11, 1974 shows former Japanese imperial army soldier Hiroo Onoda (right) offering his military sword to former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos to express his surrender at the Malacanan Palace in Manila
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)
