Onoda would n't accept Philippines 's World War II defeat until 1974 . He stayed in the jungle on the Japan island where he had been deployed . His former commanding officer had to travel to the island to persuade him to give up . Onoda died of pneumonia in a Japan hospital 1974 , a collegue says .
Hiroo Onoda would n't accept Japan 's World War II defeat until 1974 . He stayed in the jungle on the Philippines island where he had been deployed . His former commanding officer had to travel to the island to persuade him to give up . Onoda died of pneumonia in a Tokyo hospital Thursday , a collegue says .