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Fertig, Wendell W. (DSC), COL.
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Date of Passing Mar 24, 1975
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Wendell Fertig (December 16,1900 – March 24, 1975) was an American civil engineer in the Philippines, who became a leader of a guerrilla force in the Japanese-occupied Southern Philippine island of Mindanao during World War II.
Fertig was commissioned as a Captain (reserve) in the United States Army Corps of Engineers at the outbreak of the Second World War in the Pacific theater (1941). Promoted twice by April 1942, Fertig - by then a Lieutenant Colonel - was sent from Bataan to Mindanao by General Edward P. King (Luzon Force Commander) to assist General William F. Sharp (Mindanao Force Commander). After the Philippines were surrendered to the Japanese in May 1942, Fertig decided to continue the fight.
Over the next two and a half years, Fertig created and commanded the "United States Forces in the Philippines" (USFIP), recruiting escaped POWS, Filipino natives, rival guerrilla groups, and soldiers who had refused to surrender. This was done despite Fertig having no formal military training (he was direct-commissioned into the military). Between 1942 and 1944, USFIP conducted numerous raids against the Japanese Occupation Forces on Mindanao in order to both sustain his operation with captured supplies, and to carry on a harassing operation against the Japanese. Fertig's forces were able to repel Japanese attempts to recapture territory held by the guerrillas. In order to be able to lead, Fertig had to promote himself to Brigadier General as he knew that no Filipino would follow a Lieutenant Colonel in a guerrilla operation. This self-promotion did not endear him to General Douglas MacArthur or his staff, but MacArthur did send logistical support to Fertig throughout 1943 and 1944. This was not done earlier because MacArthur did not know whether such a force existed as there was immense difficulty in communicating with Fertig and his group. He also felt that recognizing Fertig as a guerrilla commander would be dangerous if the Japanese were to capture him and score a propaganda coup.
From humble beginnings, USFIP became one of the best equipped and effective irregular units operating in World War II. In fact, when the submarine USS Narwhal went to Mindanao in 1944 to deliver supplies, they were met by the uniformed band of USFIP playing "Stars and Stripes Forever". In 1945, Fertig's forces participated in the Battle of Mindanao that effectively ended organized Japanese resistance in the region.
Fertig was promoted to full Colonel by MacArthur and awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his efforts. After the war ended, Fertig resumed his career as a civil engineer. He is widely regarded as a hero by the people of Mindanao, and was a highly respected figure among the U.S. Special Forces. He helped found the Army Special Warfare School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Some military scholars are of the opinion that the failure of the military to promote Fertig to the rank of General was a travesty perpetuated by MacArthur's staff. Through his efforts in establishing USFIP, Fertig ended up by 1944 commanding a force totalling approximately 38,000 effectives, (the equivalent of an Army Corps), with 16500 of them armed.
Historical Accounts
John Keats' biography They Fought Alone describes Fertig's guerrilla operation.
In Fiction
Wendell Fertig and some fictionalized actions of the US Forces in the Philippines are featured in W.E.B. Griffin's 8th book of The Corps Series, Behind the Lines. The book is based on the beginning phases of Fertig's operation and the top-level political maneuvering surrounding it.
Leyte Campaign (1944-45)/Battle of Mindoro
From Month/Year
December / 1944
To Month/Year
December / 1944
Description The Battle of Mindoro was a battle in World War II between forces of the United States and Japan, in Mindoro Island in the central Philippines, from 13–16 December 1944, during the Philippines campaign.
Troops of the United States Army, supported by the United States Navy and U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF), made an amphibious landing on Mindoro and defeated Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) forces there. There was no significant opposition from the Imperial Japanese Navy, nor from the Japanese Army and Navy Air Forces, except for kamikaze (suicide) attacks on American ships.
The Japanese force in Mindoro was not large, and was eliminated in three days. The Army was assisted in the campaign by guerrillas from the local Filipino population.
The U.S. captured Mindoro to establish airfields there, which would be in fighter range of Lingayen Gulf in northern Luzon Island, where the next major amphibious invasion of the Philippines was planned. Ground-based fighter cover was necessary for this operation. Mindoro could also serve as the advanced base for U.S. troops going to fight in Luzon.
Battle
On 15 December, the invasion of Mindoro began. The clear weather allowed the full use of American air and naval power, including six escort carriers, three battleships, six cruisers and many other support warships against light Japanese resistance. Because of inadequate airstrip facilities in Leyte, the 503rd Parachute Regimental Combat Team came ashore in Mangarin Bay with the landing force instead of jumping. Destroyers provided fire support for the troop landings and anti-aircraft protection for the ships in the transport area. Two LSTs struck by kamikazes were abandoned and sank.
In one heroic action, the destroyer USS Moale (DD-693), under the command of Commander Walter M. Foster, went alongside the burning LST-738 (which was loaded with aviation fuel and ordnance) to rescue crewmembers. Several explosions aboard LST-738 caused damage to Moale as she pulled away. Some pieces of shrapnel were two feet square and they put four holes in Moale's hull. Gunner's Mate Ed Marsh reported that a one-gallon jar of vaseline from the LST's cargo splattered on one barrel of his twin 40 mm Bofors AA gun, providing unwelcome lubrication. Moale suffered one casualty and thirteen wounded. In addition, Moale also rescued 88 survivors.
There were 1,000 defending Japanese soldiers stationed on Mindoro. Another 200 survivors from ships sunk off Mindoro en route to Leyte were also present. The defenders were outnumbered and outgunned. Some 300 Japanese manning an air raid warning station at the island's northern end put up a stiff fight against a company of the 503rd, but except for mopping up, the island was secure within 48 hours.
Aftermath
The defending Japanese forces on Mindoro suffered some 200 killed and 375 wounded. The survivors fled into the jungles, where they lurked till the end of the war. The 24th Infantry Division lost 18 men and had 81 wounded.
By the end of the first day, Army engineers were at work preparing airfields. Two were completed in thirteen days. These airfields allowed U.S. aircraft to provide direct support for the Luzon invasion. The Mindoro airfields were also used by long-range bombers, especially USAAF B-24 Liberators, to attack Japanese shipping from Formosa to Luzon. These bombers also operated over the South China Sea, and combined with the Navy to blockade shipping between Japan and south-east Asia.
