Who was the coolest person in World War II?

[radiator]

Second Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda, who continued fighting a guerilla campaign in the Philipines for almost thirty years after the Second World War had ended.

On 20 February 1974, Onoda met a Japanese college dropout, Norio Suzuki, who was traveling the world and was looking for "Lieutenant Onoda, a panda, and the Abominable Snowman, in that order". Onoda and Suzuki became friends, but Onoda still refused to surrender, saying that he was waiting for orders from a superior officer.

Suzuki returned to Japan with photographs of himself and Onoda as proof of their encounter, and the Japanese government located Onoda's commanding officer, Major Taniguchi, who had since become a bookseller. He flew to Lubang and on 9 March 1974 informed Onoda of the defeat of Japan and ordered him to lay down his arms.

Lieutenant Onoda emerged from the jungle 29 years after the end of World War II, and accepted the commanding officer's order of surrender in his uniform and sword, with his Arisaka Type 99 rifle still in operating condition, 500 rounds of ammunition and several hand grenades.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroo_Onoda

[Hoagy]

Was Gandhi around in WW2? He's pretty cool.

[Adrian Bamforth]

The old man I met as a kid who claimed his submarine got lodged under a rock, and they all had to go to the top end and jump up and down to dislodge it.

[Colin Zeal]

Chas (or possibly Dave's) dad sounds pretty cool according to the song "Gertcha." You just need to find out his name and away you go.


Now the old man was a Desert Rat
Khaki shorts and a khaki hat
How me mother could have fancied that
I just don't know
But when the enemy came in sight
They gave up without a fight
They rubbed him up the wrong way
This is what they heard him say

[Hoagy]

My Grandad was Africa Corps Engineers. Fixing engines and that. Not Infantry.

[vzzbux]

My Grandad was Africa Corps Engineers. Fixing engines and that. Not Infantry.

Are you sure.
Three Afrika Korps yesterday.





V

[Hoagy]

What I meant to say, iiiis, He was fighting the famous Africa KOrps. In Africa.

And while we're being all hoity toity V, how about a ? at the end of your Are you sure.....?

Makes one look sooo much smarter when one is being a sehmart arse.

[vzzbux]

STFU you military drone V. I get this info off of my mum.

He was most likely one of these. Just like my Grandad.

A Desert Rat yesterday.






V

[Hoagy]

Yup. That's the one. Oh and continuity fans? I edited last post. 

[flip-r mk2]

My Grandad who volunteered to join the army instead of getting called up.He did this to get away from my Gran.


filip

[Mikey]

Just thought of a good 'un that might fit Tip's bill-Alan Turing.

M

[Professor Bear]

As a Catholic in good standing I feel compelled to nominate the Pope, who as a Nazi had the good grace to be called Ratzinger so it could be later shortened by no less than Captain America himself to "Ratzi" as a sort of catch-all slang for people he could punch in the mouth after jumping through windows.

[worldshown]

Polish fighting bear, anyone? That's pretty cool.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wojtek_%28soldier_bear%29

http://www.badassoftheweek.com/voytek.html (NSFW language)

[davethomson]

Despite volunteering several times and lying about his occupation, none of the armed forces let my grandfather sign up. The moment they found out his vocation, he was sent back down the Northumbrian pits.

It pissed him off no end at the time, especially as his mates all went off to fight. In the end though they all got shot and he lived on to become a truly grumpy old sod.

[vzzbux]

We all have to remember the work force back in blighty did their bit for the effort as well. Without them the country would have ground to a halt. The Bevan Boys were conscripts too.





V