A Japanese soldier who fought in World War II and hid in the jungle for 29 years died at the age of 91, USA TODAY reported.
Hiroo Onoda lived in the Phillipines jungles for almost 30 years after 1945, officially coming out of hiding in 1974 while still wearing his uniform. He surrendered to Phillipine President Ferdinand Marcos after his former commander finally told him his mission to hide out and spy on Americans was over.
According to a report in the New York Times, Onoda and three fellow soldiers believed news of the war's end to be propaganda and collectively decided to hide in huts they built, living off of bananas, coconuts, stolen rice, and cows they killed.
However, one of Onoda's comrades surrended to authorities five years in and the other two were killed by police just two years before he came out of hiding. The Guardian reported that he broke down when he gave up his rifle, still "perfectly serviceable" and used to kill up to 30 locals he believed to be enemies.
A spokesman for the Japanese government praised Onoda for his efforts in the war.
"After World War II, Mr. Onoda lived in the jungle for many years and when he returned to Japan, I felt that finally, the war was finished. That's how I felt," the spokesman said.
Following the end of his service, he purchased a ranch in Brazil and then went back to Japan where he taught at a children's nature school. In an interview in 1995, Onoda said he didn't regret what happened to him in the past.
"I don't consider those 30 years a waste of time," he said. "Without that experience, I wouldn't have my life today."
