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1972 – After 28 years of hiding in the jungles of Guam, local farmers discover Shoichi Yokoi, a Japanese sergeant who was unaware that World War II had ended.
Guam, a 200-square-mile island in the western Pacific, became a U.S. possession in 1898 after the Spanish-American War. In 1941, the Japanese attacked and captured it, and in 1944, after three years of Japanese occupation, U.S. forces retook Guam. It was at this time that Yokoi, left behind by the retreating Japanese forces, went into hiding rather than surrender to the Americans.
In the jungles of Guam, he carved survival tools and for the next three decades waited for the return of the Japanese and his next orders. After he was discovered in 1972, he was finally discharged and sent home to Japan, where he was hailed as a national hero. He subsequently married and returned to Guam for his honeymoon. His handcrafted survival tools and threadbare uniform are on display in the Guam Museum in Agana.
https://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2014/01/24/january-24/
Guam, a 200-square-mile island in the western Pacific, became a U.S. possession in 1898 after the Spanish-American War. In 1941, the Japanese attacked and captured it, and in 1944, after three years of Japanese occupation, U.S. forces retook Guam. It was at this time that Yokoi, left behind by the retreating Japanese forces, went into hiding rather than surrender to the Americans.
In the jungles of Guam, he carved survival tools and for the next three decades waited for the return of the Japanese and his next orders. After he was discovered in 1972, he was finally discharged and sent home to Japan, where he was hailed as a national hero. He subsequently married and returned to Guam for his honeymoon. His handcrafted survival tools and threadbare uniform are on display in the Guam Museum in Agana.
https://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2014/01/24/january-24/
Posted in these groups: 
Military History
WWII World War Two
Military History WWII World War Two
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 3
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Hitomi said that she attended a survival school that he taught back in 1983.
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Wow. That is true dedication. (Or plain crazy) I don't think I could have "waited" for orders. My ADD would kick in and I'd need something to do! Changes the meaning of Hurry up and wait- for 30 years.
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My Dad was stationed in Guam 70-71, and talked about these Japanese Soldiers who were still holding out.talk about not quitting your post until properly relieved.
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