30 years ago today, Hiroo Onoda surrendered in WWII

This week is the 30th anniversary of the surrender of the last fighting soldier in the second world war.

On March 10th, 1974, 2d Lt. Hiroo Onoda surrenders to Philippine authorities. He believed World War II was still underway and continued a 30 year guerrila battle with other islanders. His final capitulation came first when his senior officer, Major Taniguchi, was flown to the island and ordered his surrender.

When Onoda landed in Japan, his older brother was waiting to greet him. ''I don't know whether to shout ''Well done,'' he declared, or ''You damn fool!''''

http://history1900s.about.com/library/weekly/aa120700a.htm

He later wrote a book about the life in the jungle, struggles, duty and futility.

No Surrender: My Thirty-Year War -- By Hiroo Onoda

A truly remarkable story that never ceases to remind me of the importance of putting things into perspective.