9. Onoda Kept Going, Even After Losing All His Comrades
Onoda’s tiny contingent steadily dwindled over the years. In 1949, one of them simply left the group, wandered alone around Lubang for six months, and eventually surrendered. Another was killed by a search party in 1954. Onoda’s last companion was shot dead by police in 1972, who came upon the duo as they were trying to burn the rice stores of local farmers. Onoda was thus finally alone. Yet he kept on fighting, doggedly conducting a one-man war.