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[Adventurer]

Shoichi Yokoi, the Japanese soldier who held out in Guam
By Mike Lanchin BBC World Service

It's exactly 40 years since a Japanese soldier was found in the jungles of Guam, having survived there for nearly three decades after the end of WWII. He was given a hero's welcome on his return to Japan - but never quite felt at home in modern society.

Yokoi's long ordeal began in July 1944 when US forces stormed Guam as part of their offensive against the Japanese in the Pacific.
Yokoi's eel trap Yokoi's eel trap was one of his prize possessions

The fighting was fierce, casualties were high on both sides, but once the Japanese command was disrupted, soldiers such as Yokoi and others in his platoon, were left to fend for themselves.

"From the outset they took enormous care not to be detected, erasing their footprints as they moved through the undergrowth," Hatashin said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16681636

[rollo]

This is interesting to me because my uncle was on Guam months after the fighting and captured one of the "hold outs". Well wnat happened he was wandering off looking for some fruit and a Japanese soldier suddenly appeared carrying a rifle and my uncle took off running and got to camp got some men and weapons returned found the guy sitting on the trail. Took him in, my uncle said he was the most emaciated person he had ever seen. Barely could carry the rifle. they found his hide out he had been there for a few months very little to eat afraid to move. Apparently he had decided to surrender and saw my uncle. My uncle said the poor little fellow was put in the hospital he was in terrible shape.

[Squire]

I remember reading about this in a kids' history book. Fascinating story

[12ax7]

Anybody remember this movie?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081031/

[Adventurer]