He Was Ordered to Defend an Island
While in the Philippines’ capital of Manila, Onoda received a new assignment from Japanese Intelligence Division Major Satokata Takahashi. His orders said: “Apprentice officer Onoda will proceed to , where he will lead the Lubang Garrison in Guerrilla Warfare. You are absolutely forbidden to die by your own hand. It may take three years, it may take five, but whatever happens, we’ll come back for you. Until then, so long as you have one soldier, you are to continue to lead him. You may have to live on coconuts. If that’s the case, live on coconuts! Under no circumstances are you allowed to give up your life voluntarily.” But his training certainly hadn’t prepared him for what was to come.