Hiroo Onoda returns from Philippines to Japan

Feb. 26 Japanese Soldier Surrenders After Holding Out 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 was given a complete pardon by President Ferdinand Marcos in Manila. Hiroo Onoda is greeted by his father (86), and mother (88) who thought he had been killed in the war

Restrictions Only for United Kingdom

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

Features In These Collections

> Contributors > KEY