1. Japanese Intelligence Officer Hiroo Onoda Continued Fighting World War II for Almost 30 Years
Second Lieutenant in the Imperial Japanese Army Hiroo Onoda fought local Filipino forces in the mountains of the Philippines for 29 years after World War II ended. He only surrendered after he received direct orders from his commanding officer relieving him from duty.
Onoda surrendered on March 9, 1974. He turned over his sword, his functioning Arisaka Type 99 rifle, 500 rounds of ammunition, several hand grenades, and a dagger given to him by his mother to be used to kill himself if he was captured.
Onoda received several pamphlets declaring World War II was over, but he believed it to be Allied propaganda. It was not until his commanding officer Major Yoshimi Taniguchi personally flew to Lubang in the Philippines and ordered him relieved from duty did he surrender.