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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

EndNotes

Japanese soldier

A Japanese soldier who refused to surrender after WWII has died. Refusing to surrender is not that unusual, but refusing – and hiding in the Philippine jungle – for 29 years is. Hiroo Onada was not the only soldier to stay hidden. The several dozen who did were called “hold-outs.” Onada stole rice and bananas, shot cows to dry and eat the meat. He surrendered in 1974 after his former commander came to the island and reversed his orders to spy on U.S. troops. Onada died in Tokyo at age 91 – a man of curious determination.



Spokesman-Review features writer Rebecca Nappi, along with writer Catherine Johnston of Olympia, Wash., discuss here issues facing aging boomers, seniors and those experiencing serious illness, dying, death and other forms of loss.