Loyalty

      More Letters From Paradise
              Loyalty by Grant Smart
Maybe you remember reading in 1974, that the last Japanese imperial soldier surrendered.  I remember, and recently read in our paper that he had died in a hospital in Tokyo. We here in Hawaii have very close ties with Japan, and so it was not surprising that the event was carried by A.P., and printed here.
The soldier's name was Hiroo Onoda. He had been ordered to remain in the Philippine jungle and spy on the Americans. He was in hiding for 29 years.  Attempts to have him surrender failed, loudspeakers and dropped leaflets were ignored.  He came out of the jungle only after his former commander flew to the Philippines and reversed his original order.  He emerged on his 52nd birthday,  wearing his patched  uniform, cap, and carrying his sword.  During WWII, Japanese soldiers were taught absolute loyalty to the nation and the emperor. He was 91 when he died.

           Aloha
           Grant