Hiroo Onoda, Japanese soldier, in Philippines

Mar. 31 Japanese Soldier surrenders after holding out for 29 years in jungle: Hiroo Onoda, a Japanese World War II straggler who refused to surrender until he received the order to do so from his superior officer, and held out for 29 years in the jungle of Lubang Island of the Philippines, was flown back to Tokyo after his former commander persuaded him to surrender. The 2nd lieutenant, who lived on bananas and coconuts, apart from what he could steal from the Lubang islanders, is 52 years of age, and looked fit and well as he stepped off the plane to greet his aged parents and brother who believed he was killed in the war, and had erected a tombstone for him. Onoda's existence was confirmed when Norio Suzuki, a young Japanese tourist went to Lubang island on his own initiative and succeeded in meeting him, and taking his photograph. Before leaving the Philippines for Japan, the former officer of the defunct Imperial Japanese Army he was given a complete pardon by President Ferdinand Marcos in Manila. Photo shows World War II straggler Lt. Hiroo Onoda with the hilt of his sword wrapped with a white cloth of surrender salutes as he formally surrenders on Lubang Island after holding out 29 years in the jungle

Restrictions Only for United Kingdom

Apart Bananas Believed Coconuts Confirmed Defunct Erected Flown Formally Greet Hiroo Initiative Islanders Lived Looked Manila Marcos Onoda Pardon Persuaded Philippines Postwar Refused Salutes Steal Stepped Succeeded Superior Surrenders Suzuki Tombstone Wrapped

Features In These Collections

> Contributors > KEY