They Fought Alone

[kragluver]

They Fought Alone by Keats - This is a fascinating read about the American and Filipino guerrilla efforts on Mindanao during WW2 led by Col Wendell Fertig. Anyone interested in Special Warfare or unconventional histories about WW2 will find this book very interesting. My copy is dated 1963 but I understand there was a later edition copyrighted 1990. I highly recommend this book. Col Wendell Fertig was a true American and Filipino hero and unfortunately, history has all but forgotten his efforts.

The Wikipedia article on Fertig is quite good if you are interested.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[ArizonaBeagle]

Thank you for the info on Wendell Fertig.

"Col Wendell Fertig was a true American and Filipino hero and unfortunately, history has all but forgotten his efforts."

From WEB Griffins end note in "Behind The Lines".......He states the following;
Although Fertig had commanded more men in combat than does a major general commanding a division, the Army never saw fit to promote him, even in the reserve, beyond a full colonel."

And you are correct, the Wikipedia story does tell a lot more of the truth of this magnificent campaign against the Japanese that tied up a large number of troops ......."Throughout the entire Philippines, guerrillas managed to tie down a Japanese army of 288,000 troops" (Wiki)
AZB

[kragluver]

The Wikipedia sight said that a movie was in consideration. If done correctly (big what if!!!) - what a fantastic movie it would make! In reading the book, some of the fighting between "Fertig's Navy" and Japanese launches is simply incredible - stuff that couldn't be made up in Hollywood - an 18th century sailing ship commanded by a German expatriate under Fertig's command armed with .50-cal MGs and 20mm cannon trading shots with armored Jap launches - great stuff!

[841NER]

an 18th century sailing ship commanded by a German expatriate under Fertig's command armed with .50-cal MGs and 20mm cannon trading shots with armored Jap launches

I'll be getting my hands on that! Sounds like something Donald Kennedy would have done out of Segi.

[Gibbs505]

Great find here!!

[kragluver]

I finished reading the book yesterday. Fertig and his men really got a raw deal - almost no recognition for their actions. Fertig was never promoted above Col (he commanded the equivalent of a division). He did receive a DSC from MacArthur. One website stated that it may not have been so much that MacArthur was trying to minimize Fertig's actions, but more like back-biting by MacArthur's staff officers - one Courtney Willouby (sp??) in particular. Fertig did become somewhat of an icon for the Spec Warfare guys in the 1950s and 1960s. Frankly, you have to wonder if the VietCong didn't read this book in the early 1960s!

[RCS]

Major General Willoughby 1892 -1972, born in Heidelberg Germany and entered the US Army in 1910 as a Private. Became an officer at the start of WW1, changed his name from Adolph Weidenbach to Willoughby sometime in the early 1920's. Interesting background.