In 1974, a cabin was discovered in Indonesia, occupied by a Japanese soldier who was still fighting in World War II. He was called Nakamura Teruo (中村輝夫), but in fact, he was Attun Palalin. He was born in 1919 and was from the Amis tribe, a Japanese colony in eastern Taiwan. As his name suggests, he was a brilliant husband who enlisted in the army because the Japanese promised to provide his family with food and money.
At 24 years old, he was sent to Morotai, an island in Indonesia. It was invaded by the Allies in 1944 during the Battle of Morotai, and he was declared dead in March 1945. Nakamura’s cabin was accidentally discovered by a pilot in mid-1974. He did not speak Japanese and wanted to return to his homeland in Taiwan, but he was saddened to find out that his wife had already remarried.
The fact that he did not have pure Japanese nationality meant he received less money and was little acclaimed by the media. Until he pursued and managed to be better compensated. Five years after returning to his home in Taiwan, he died of lung cancer.
Japanese Found in the Philippines in 1974
Nakamura Teruo was not the only one to fight in World War II after it had ended. The case that received the most attention was that of Hiroo Onoda, who during World War II was sent to Lubang Island in the Philippines. He and his companions were on the island when it was invaded and captured by American forces in 1945; many died while Onoda and a few companions hid in the jungle.
He and 3 companions lived in the mountains until his 2 companions died in battle against Philippine forces. Onoda lived alone in the mountains for 29 years, even with attempts to convince him that the war had ended with the Emperor’s surrender. In 1960, Onoda was declared legally dead in Japan. To survive, Onoda stole rice and bananas from local residents and slaughtered cows for meat.
Even after Onoda met a Japanese student, Norio Suzuki, he refused to accept that the war was over unless he received official orders from his superior to lay down his arms. The Japanese student returned to Japan with photographs to prove his encounter with Onoda and managed to find his Superior to order Onoda to lay down his arms.
Thus, Lieutenant Onoda was duly relieved of his duty without ever surrendering. He accepted the official order from his commander wearing his uniform and sword with an operational Arisaka 99 rifle with 500 rounds of ammunition, several hand grenades, and a dagger that his mother had given him in 1944 for protection. During this time in the mountains, 30 Filipino inhabitants were killed by Onoda, but he received forgiveness from Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos.
He went to Brazil!
After his surrender, Onoda moved to Brazil, where he became a cattle farmer in the agricultural colony of Jamic in Terenos, Mato Grosso do Sul. Onoda received on December 6, 2006, the Santos-Dumont merit medal from the Brazilian Air Force. In February 2010, the Legislative Assembly of Mato Grosso do Sul conferred upon him the title of “Citizen of Mato Grosso do Sul.” Unfortunately, Hiroo Onoda passed away on January 17, 2014.
Shoichi Yokoi Fought Until 1972
Shoichi Yokoi was born in 1915 and became world-renowned when he was found hiding on the island of Guam located at the southern tip of the Mariana Islands in the Pacific Ocean. When the Americans recaptured the island in 1944, Yokoi hid in the jungle to avoid surrendering to enemy troops.
During those 27 years, he remained hidden in a shelter/cave and hunted at night. He used native plants to make clothes, bedding, food, etc. He was afraid of being killed by the inhabitants of Guam and did not want to surrender even upon seeing leaflets announcing the end of World War II.
On January 24, 1972, he was rescued by Jesus and by the Grace of God. That’s right, he was found by 2 local hunters named Jesus Duenas and Manuel DeGracia. In reality, Yokoi was captured by the hunters through his traps; DeGracia wanted to kill the Japanese man because of the death of his niece after the end of the Battle of Guam, but Jesus convinced him that this was not right.
“It was very embarrassing for me to have returned alive,” Yokoi said upon returning to his country, with his combat rifle slung over his shoulder, in a phrase that would become a popular saying in Japan. He became a celebrity in Japan, got married, and moved to rural Aichi. In 1991, he received the greatest honor of his life when he was received in an audience by the Emperor of Japan, Akihito. During an interview, he said he had strong and deep reasons for having remained isolated from civilization for so long. According to him, his childhood was very hard, and his relatives were very rude, which made him venture into the forest to stay away from them. Shoichi Yokoi died in 1997 at the age of 82 from a heart attack.
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