HoooRah!!
Col. Fertig was one of my boyhood heroes.
I learned his story as a boy from my father, Col. C.P.Carstarphen, USAR, who served in the Pacific and met "BG" Fertig during the Philippine liberation.
He is indeed one of America's heros.
John Carstarphen
SFC, USA, Retired
I've read many stories about Col. Wendell Fertig. A true American hero. I served in the Philippines, post war years and married a Filipina.
His story is truly inspiring. John Keat's book "They Fought Alone." describes the tremendous courage and leadership this man had.
I am the daughter of one of the guerilla soldiers who joined Col. Fertig in his battle against the japanese in the Philippines. I do not know the whole story by what I knew about was that Col. Fertig also came to Panay Island, Philippines. My aunt, Nelly C. Bates, who is now based in the U.S. once told us that my father, Agapito I. Cerrillo, hid the wife and daughter of Col. Fertig from the Japanese who killed his companions by forcing them to eat soap. According to my aunt, my father hid Col. Fertig's family at the back of a church in Iloilo. As a matter of fact, I am named Susan because I was named after Fertig's wife or daughter who is also named Susan. When the war was over in the Philippines, a submarine fetch Col. Fertig which passed by Australia, before going to America. Col. Fertig, asked my father to go with him to America, but my father being eighteen years old then would not want to leave his family in the Philippines.
This is a very interesting story but it would be even more interesting if the story included some of the interesting characters who popped out of the wood work so to speak. Men like Hedges aka Colonel goddamn to many of his Filipino troops and the German and former German Army Officer Waldo Nevling whom Firtig commissioned as an Officer in the US Army.
I rad a book after WWII titled "An Americzn Guerilla in the Phillipines". I w0onder if it was written by or about Gen Fertig? I was 16 at the time.tchanes
An amazing man and an even more amazing story. This man recruited, assembled, armed and organized over 30,000 effective troops who challenged and otherwise disrupted the Japanese war machine during WWII. He should have been promoted to General and recognized as the inspirational leader he truly was, yet the regular army refused to accept him and his accomplishments. General Douglas MacArthur only accepted this man because he couldn't ignor him. A true American and Philippeen hero. RIP General Fertig.
The Army of post WWII was wondering what would become of all the officers and senior NCO's it had on it's hands. As was the case after WWI, Congress saw "no more need of fighting forces", and each senior member was fighting to save his own job, much less that of someone who was "only a reservist".
I suppose that the Army and Marines will once again be forced by Congress to draw down after the War On Terror is finally finished.
What a shame!
I learned of Wendell Fertig from W.E. B. Griffith's "Behind the Lines". A remarkable story of men who resisted the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines despite to lack of assistance from Douglas MacArthur.Macarthur and his toadies never forgave Fertig for promoting himself to General. But Fertig proved himself up to the task. A true American hero.
An American Guerilla In the Philippines was actually loosely based on a POW who managed to escape the Japanese; his name escapes me.
About 1957 when I was in the Air Force I think that I read a book about Wendell Fertig. Does anyone remember this?
At one point there was some work being done to put together a movie based on Lt. Col. Fertig. Does anyone know anything
Like a number of folks, I was introduced to BG Fertig via Butterworths' novels on the Corps. An amazing man in an amazing time!
R.C. Jennings
CDR USN RC
He deserved the Medal and at least one star.
Actually, Fertig promoted himself to Brigadier General "US Forces in the Philippines" (USFIP), not BG, USA
General Fertig not only commanded American and Philipine soldiers he also oversaw the Philipine government on Mindanao which operated under the noses of the Japanese. They printed and issued money, collected taxes, operated courts etc.
Waldo Neveling was almost as colorful as Fertig. Read the book "They Fought Alone" All of those men were true patriots.
I am the great granddaughter of Wendell Fetig! It means a lot to my family and I that you all feel so strongly about what he did! My family and I also feel that even in death he deserves more than he received. We are writing to the Chief of staff of the army, hopefully getting him the medal of honor as well as promoted to general. If any of you are willing to help please E-mail me. It means a lot to our family!
thank you
Hi Courtney,
My name is Jerry Sinner, My mother's maiden name is Fertig. I remember my uncle Ray going to Colorado all the time to visit Col. Fertig when I was a boy, it didnt mean much to me at the time but it sure makes me proud today.If you have a sinature chain or something I'm sure all the Fertigs in Wyo. would be more than happy to sign it, (there are ALOT of them in the Cheyenne area)if you send me the info I would be glad to pass it on.I would also love to invite you and yours to the Fertig family reunion in Wyo. every year on the 4th of July weekend. There were around 250 people this year some, years its alot higher. Please write back at jerry_sinner2000@yahoo.com best of luck to you.
Ian the granddaughter by his choosing of Waldo Neveling. My grandparents Ancel and Alma Crenshaw were his U.S. sponsors. He remained a family friend to us until his death. I like some of the others have had the stories passed down to us over our lifetime....I am amazed at his legacy and knowing some of the things he was required to do.....that I only know him as a loving grandfather!
I continue to search for more information about him and my grandfather Ancel Crenshaw who was a P.O.W. in the Phillipines. If you have any additional information I would love to hear from you. my only sources other than oral are the two books mentioned above.
Colonel Fertig was one of many victims of MacArthur's ego. He should be promoted to general and his family presented the medal of honor.
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