The last hold out passes on.

rolandtg · 01-17-2014, 07:55 PM

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/18/wo...t-91.html?_r=0

"Hiroo Onoda, an Imperial Japanese Army officer who remained at his jungle post on an island in the Philippines for 29 years, refusing to believe that World War II was over, and returned to a hero’s welcome in the all but unrecognizable Japan of 1974, died on Thursday in Tokyo. He was 91."

Arizona Slim · 01-17-2014, 08:35 PM

Thanks Dana, his loyalty to his mother country is certainly commendable but a life wasted none the less.

Lon

DavidJayUden · 01-17-2014, 10:14 PM

There are lots of ways to waste a life, and his seems less wasted than many others.
dju

lew1 · 01-18-2014, 08:26 AM

The only think I can say is that I had four 1st cousins, once removed, who were in the Pacific during WWII. Plus there was a local doctor who was on the march.

Curly1 · 01-19-2014, 01:03 AM

The ultimate survivalist.

MikeP · 01-21-2014, 02:50 AM

I read his book a long time ago.
Kind of a pitful dupe, kind of a nutjob.
He was a REMF intel officer and ordered to take to the hills and observe the enemy when the main Japanese force left. They would return and take his report.
He had a number of men, up to a hundred as I recall.

They stayed a few years but gradually all but 2 turned themselves in.
Onoda and his 2 guys had a miserable life-eating bugs and garbage, moving about from spot to spot and trying to draw as little attention as possible.

Both other guys died and he maintained vigilance. A kid from Japan heard rumours about him and set out to find him.
Onoda-from his book-"Observed him and determined to capture and interrogate him,"
Long story short, they found his former CO, and at a prearranged ceremony he stood and ordered Lt Onoda to cease hostilities and surrender.

He was made a very big deal in Japan, having saved national face, but he had a hard time with society-ya think?

I have some respect as a soldier, but mostly dismay that folks couild be so brainwashed and victimised.
RIP

01-17-2014, 07:55 PM	#1
rolandtg User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Hill Country Posts: 477 Thanks: 380 Thanked 258 Times in 113 Posts	The last hold out passes on. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/18/wo...t-91.html?_r=0 "Hiroo Onoda, an Imperial Japanese Army officer who remained at his jungle post on an island in the Philippines for 29 years, refusing to believe that World War II was over, and returned to a hero’s welcome in the all but unrecognizable Japan of 1974, died on Thursday in Tokyo. He was 91."

01-18-2014, 08:26 AM	#4
lew1 Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,108 Thanks: 82 Thanked 204 Times in 112 Posts	The only think I can say is that I had four 1st cousins, once removed, who were in the Pacific during WWII. Plus there was a local doctor who was on the march. __________________ charlie

01-19-2014, 01:03 AM	#5
Curly1 User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 1,242 Thanks: 117 Thanked 714 Times in 371 Posts	The ultimate survivalist. __________________ Laugh hard and often. Gary

01-17-2014, 08:35 PM	#2
Arizona Slim Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 706 Thanks: 1,026 Thanked 409 Times in 225 Posts	Thanks Dana, his loyalty to his mother country is certainly commendable but a life wasted none the less. Lon

01-17-2014, 10:14 PM	#3
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	There are lots of ways to waste a life, and his seems less wasted than many others. dju

01-21-2014, 02:50 AM	#6
MikeP User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: ILL Posts: 686 Thanks: 36 Thanked 452 Times in 198 Posts	I read his book a long time ago. Kind of a pitful dupe, kind of a nutjob. He was a REMF intel officer and ordered to take to the hills and observe the enemy when the main Japanese force left. They would return and take his report. He had a number of men, up to a hundred as I recall. They stayed a few years but gradually all but 2 turned themselves in. Onoda and his 2 guys had a miserable life-eating bugs and garbage, moving about from spot to spot and trying to draw as little attention as possible. Both other guys died and he maintained vigilance. A kid from Japan heard rumours about him and set out to find him. Onoda-from his book-"Observed him and determined to capture and interrogate him," Long story short, they found his former CO, and at a prearranged ceremony he stood and ordered Lt Onoda to cease hostilities and surrender. He was made a very big deal in Japan, having saved national face, but he had a hard time with society-ya think? I have some respect as a soldier, but mostly dismay that folks couild be so brainwashed and victimised. RIP