Author Topic: Hiroo Onoda (Read 1031 times)

LondonPunjabi · « **on:** March 09, 2011, 09:25:58 PM »

In 1944, Lt. Hiroo Onoda was sent by the Japanese army to the remote Philippine island of Lubang. His mission was to conduct guerrilla warfare during World War II. Unfortunately, he was never officially told the war had ended; so for 29 years, Onoda continued to live in the jungle, ready for when his country would again need his services and information. Eating coconuts and bananas and deftly evading searching parties he believed were enemy scouts, Onoda hid in the jungle until he finally emerged from the dark recesses of the island on March 19, 1972.

Hiroo Onoda was 20 years-old when he was called up to join the army. At the time, he was far from home working at a branch of the Tajima Yoko trading company in Hankow (now Wuhan), China. After passing his physical, Onoda quit his job and returned to his home in Wakayama, Japan in August of 1942 to get into top physical condition.

In the Japanese army, Onoda was trained as an officer and was then chosen to be trained at an Imperial Army intelligence school. At this school, Onoda was taught how to gather intelligence and how to conduct guerrilla warfare.

His orders were
“You are absolutely forbidden to die by your own hand. It may take three years, it may take five, but whatever happens, we'll come back for you. Until then, so long as you have one soldier, you are to continue to lead him. You may have to live on coconuts. If that's the case, live on coconuts! Under no circumstances are you [to] give up your life voluntarily.”

The rest of his story can be read here:
http://history1900s.about.com/od/worldwarii/a/soldiersurr.htm

The Song is from the Camel album entitled “Nude” which was dedicated to and told Onoda’s story. The guitarist (Andrew Latimer) is one of my own personal favourite guitarists.


Camel - Lies

Author Topic: Hiroo Onoda (Read 1031 times)

LondonPunjabi

Hiroo Onoda

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