(Click on map for larger view)

Japanese troops initially invaded the Philippines on December 8, 1941. American forces lost control of the islands in the early summer of 1942. They would not reach the islands again until October 1944. Since there were hundreds of tiny islands in the chain, General MacArthur could not announce complete American control of the Philippines until July 1945 (Morton 77).

In the meantime, Japanese troops in the islands had orders to defend their bases for as long as possible. When the Americans finally came, some Japanese troops followed the ancient tradition of suicide before surrender, including the majority of officers on Lubang Island. Yet many others decided to surrender after Emperor Hirohito's 1945 surrender message was broadcast by the Americans. A handful of soldiers throughout the Pacific never received the message or just refused to believe it. They fought on for a year, for five years or for decades before being convinced to give up the war. (For other soldiers' stories, click here.)

Onto Onoda's life before the war...

This exhibit was researched and designed by Jennifer Bernet.

This exhibit and museum were created during an introductory seminar on the Asia-Pacific War, taught at Wake Forest University during the spring semester 2002. The material and opinions are those of the author and do not represent the views of the University or the Department of History.