OLDNAVYMCPO
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
The Bataan Death March began on this day in 1942. It involved the transfer of between 60,000-80,000 American and Filipino POWs following the three month battle of Bataan. The total distance of the march was something over sixty miles. The exact figures of causalities is unknown but is estimated to be over 5,000 Filipinos and over 500 Americans. The conduct of the Japanese captors was nothing short of vile war crimes, with wanton murder and casual torture of prisoners.
Many Filipino and American combatants chose to go AWOL or escape capture. Some fled by boats towards Australia or Indonesia with few successes. Some being recaptured by the Japs. Many, both Filipino and Americans, fled to the Island of Mindanao. Some of the hold-outs were civilians, missionaries, clergy, doctors, nurses, oil company employees and Dole employees.
The Japanese invaders were cruel and overbearing masters who treated the indigenous people with disrespect in the extreme. These same people had a long history of friendship with Americans who governed the Commonwealth of the Philippines.
Among the population of Americans who refused surrender was a civil engineer by the name of Wendell Fertig. Fertig held a U.S. Army reserve commission and was activated before the war began. Before the fall of Corregidor, Fertig, as a newly promoted Lt Col was ordered to Mindanao to assume command of engineer activity to destroy bridges, supplies and munitions.
Shortly after Fertig's arrival, US forces on Mindanao surrendered. Fertig disappeared into the jungle where he joined with like minded Filipino natives and military deserters(escapees). Fertig took on the role of guerrilla leader and the self appointed rank of Brig General. He was so successful at his hit and run tactics that he reputedly tied-up 250,000 Jap troops and commanded 20,000 effective fighters by the time American forces recaptured the Philippines. History ranks Wendell Fertig as one of the top ten most effective guerrilla leaders of all time.
Amoung the U.S. military, Fertig never received the recognition he so richly deserved. Much of the animosity can be directly attributed to Douglas McAuthor and his "Bataan Gang" and their professional jealousy.
Fertig was a very welcomed visitor to the JFK Special Warfare Center at Ft Bragg and is considered as one of the founding fathers of Army Special Forces. His is an interesting story.
Many Filipino and American combatants chose to go AWOL or escape capture. Some fled by boats towards Australia or Indonesia with few successes. Some being recaptured by the Japs. Many, both Filipino and Americans, fled to the Island of Mindanao. Some of the hold-outs were civilians, missionaries, clergy, doctors, nurses, oil company employees and Dole employees.
The Japanese invaders were cruel and overbearing masters who treated the indigenous people with disrespect in the extreme. These same people had a long history of friendship with Americans who governed the Commonwealth of the Philippines.
Among the population of Americans who refused surrender was a civil engineer by the name of Wendell Fertig. Fertig held a U.S. Army reserve commission and was activated before the war began. Before the fall of Corregidor, Fertig, as a newly promoted Lt Col was ordered to Mindanao to assume command of engineer activity to destroy bridges, supplies and munitions.
Shortly after Fertig's arrival, US forces on Mindanao surrendered. Fertig disappeared into the jungle where he joined with like minded Filipino natives and military deserters(escapees). Fertig took on the role of guerrilla leader and the self appointed rank of Brig General. He was so successful at his hit and run tactics that he reputedly tied-up 250,000 Jap troops and commanded 20,000 effective fighters by the time American forces recaptured the Philippines. History ranks Wendell Fertig as one of the top ten most effective guerrilla leaders of all time.
Amoung the U.S. military, Fertig never received the recognition he so richly deserved. Much of the animosity can be directly attributed to Douglas McAuthor and his "Bataan Gang" and their professional jealousy.
Fertig was a very welcomed visitor to the JFK Special Warfare Center at Ft Bragg and is considered as one of the founding fathers of Army Special Forces. His is an interesting story.
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