A Mission That Didn’t End
In December 1944, Japanese intelligence officer Hirō Onoda was sent to Lubang Island, Philippines with orders to conduct guerrilla warfare and avoid capture. As World War II came to a close in 1945, Onoda and his men remained hidden, believing reports of Japan’s surrender to be enemy propaganda.
Decades in the Jungle
Onoda and his small unit survived by raiding villages for food and supplies. Over time, his comrades either surrendered or were killed, but he refused to abandon his mission. Efforts to convince him that the war had ended—including leaflets and messages from family—failed. He dismissed them as tricks.
Found by a Traveler
In 1974, a Japanese explorer named Norio Suzuki located Onoda and explained that Japan had surrendered 29 years earlier. Onoda refused to leave until he received official orders. Suzuki returned with Onoda’s former commander, who relieved him of duty.
Returning Home After 29 Years
Onoda surrendered on March 9, 1974, still wearing his uniform and carrying his rifle. He returned to Japan, where he was widely recognized for his long holdout in the jungle.
Hirō Onoda was sent to Lubang Island in 1944 with orders to conduct guerrilla warfare. When WWII ended in 1945, he refused to surrender, believing it was enemy propaganda. For 29 years, he lived in the jungle, evading capture and continuing his mission.🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/qcaCCk7LRf
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) February 11, 2025