This WWII soldier couldn't believe that war was over. So, he continued to fight alone for 29 years.

World War II profoundly affected all, particularly the frontline soldiers who daily risked their lives defending their country. Frontline soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice in their quest to preserve global peace. Yet, the immense mental and physical toll these battles exacted on the soldiers often goes unrecognized. One such example of this was a Soldier from Japan who continued his war far in the jungles even after World War II ended. For nearly three decades after World War II ended, Ex-Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda could not accept that the conflict was over, per the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Being one of the soldiers in a Japanese troop of 60, Onoda was a part of the warfare in North-Western Philippines. As a former intelligence officer, he refused to believe his country's defeat and continued waging his guerrilla war in Lubang Island. Speaking to the media channel in 2010, the Ex-Lieutenant said, "Every Japanese soldier was prepared for death but as an intelligence officer I was ordered to conduct guerrilla warfare and not to die. I became an officer and I received an order. If I could not carry it out I would feel shame. I am very competitive." Despite numerous leaflet drops and search parties, Onoda remained resolute, convinced they were merely enemy tricks. He added, "The leaflets they dropped were filled with mistakes, so I judged it was a plot by the Americans."

Ever since he was drafted into the army in 1942, Onoda was trained as an intelligence officer with guerrilla warfare skills. So, once he was deputed to the island in Phillippines he relentlessly fought against the enemy troops and eventually went into hiding along with two other soldiers. When his comrades passed away in clashed with local soldiers and villagers, Onoda had to survive alone. Hiding in the jungle, he sustained on coconut milk, bananas, and sometimes even stealing cattle for his meal. "Once I listened to an Australian election broadcast," the soldier said and added, "Another time I was interested in a cattle story - that helped me to later become a cattle breeder." At one point Onoda was even believed to be dead. But Japanese explorer Norio Suzuki refused to consider it and went on a search for Onoda.

 As per NPR, When Suzuki explained about the end of the war, Onoda replied, "I will not quit fighting unless there is an order that relieves me of my duty." Eventually, Onoda decided to lay down his arms in 1974 only when his former commanding officer met him in person on Luband Island and ordered him to do so. The soldier was pardoned for the crimes he committed when he thought that the war was still on. After returning to his homeland, Onoda decided to live a tranquil life and moved to a cattle ranch in Brazil. Later, the soldier felt the need to help students overcome the hardships in their lives and returned to Japan to work towards that cause. On 16th January 2014, Onoda breathed his last breath due to heart failure at a Tokyo hospital at the age of 91.