John Wilpers, WWII veteran and Tojo captor, dies at 93

The US soldier who arrested Japanese Prime Minister Gen Hideki Tojo to face trial for war crimes at the end of World War II has died aged 93.

John Wilpers was the last surviving member of the team that captured the Japanese leader on 11 September 1945.

Tojo had just shot himself in a suicide attempt when the five-man team of Americans arrived at his house. Wilpers is credited with keeping him alive.

Wilpers died on Thursday at a nursing home in Garrett Park, Maryland.

Later in Wilpers's life, the US Army recognised his leadership in Tojo's arrest. He was awarded the Bronze Star in 2010 at age 90.

Wilpers never talked publicly about the operation until he received the military honour.

Wilpers went on to spend 33 years working for the Central Intelligence Agency. He retired from the US Army reserve in 1979 as a colonel.