They Fought Alone

by John C. Keats

The 1942.The The Japanese-occupied island of Mindanao in the Philippines.The A stirring true account of a man who refused to be defeated.When the American forces in the Philippines surrendered in May, 1942, a mining engineer named Wendell Fertig chose to take his chances in the jungle. What happened to him during nearly three years far behind enemy lines is the amazing story that John Keats tells in They Fought Alone.For Fertig, with the aid of a handful of Americans who also refused to surrender, led thousands of Filipinos in a seemingly hopeless war against the Japanese. They made bullets from curtain rods; telegraph wire from iron fence. They fought off sickness, despair and rebellion within their own forces. Their homemade communications were MacArthur’s eyes and ears in the Philippines. When the Americans finally returned to Mindanao, they found Fertig virtually in control of one of the world’s largest islands, commanding an army of 35,000 men, and at the head of a civil government with its own post office, law courts, currency, factories, and hospitals.John Keats, who also served in the Philippines, has captured all the pain, brutality, and courage of this incredible drama, in which many memorable men and women play their parts. But They Fought Alone is essentially the story of one man—a testament to the ingenuity and sheer guts of an authentic American hero.“This remarkable story of guerrilla fighting in the Philippines during WWII...it is absorbing reading. . . . More remarkable still, though it contains death, torture, and desolation, it bubbles with humor.” —S. L. A. Marshall, The NY Times Book Review“A true and admirably researched account of an American hero who refused to accept defeat. His courage was incredible and his resourcefulness equally so. . . . I have read scores of books in this genre and Keats’ is one of the best.” —Chicago Tribune

Genres: History, Nonfiction, War, Biography, World War II

446 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

Often confused with English poet John Keats, John C. Keats was a newspaperman and social critic whose often biting commentary skewered American trends of the 1950s and 1960. The "second" Keats claimed to be a descendant of the poet, and one of his author photos showed him standing before the Keats-Shelley House in Rome, Italy.

After serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the Pacific Theater during WWII, Keats worked as a reporter for the Washington Daily News and later went on to become a freelance writer. His articles appeared in over 44 publications in the U.S., Canada, Great Britain and West Germany. In America, he contributed to Field & Stream, True, Outdoor Life, The Saturday Evening Post, Life, Esquire, Playboy, The National Geographic, Look and Vanity Fair.

He was the author of 13 books, some New York Times Best Sellers, with translated copies appearing in nine languages. Although perhaps best known for satirical social criticism leveled against post-war housing, automobiles and schools (The Crack in the Picture Window, Houghton, 1956; The Insolent Chariots, Lippincott, 1958; Schools Without Scholars, Houghton, 1958; The Sheepskin Psychosis, Lippincott, 1965;) he also wrote biographies (Howard Hughes; The Biography of a Texas Billionaire, Random House, 1966; and You Might As Well Live; The Life and Times of Dorothy Parker, Simon & Schuster 1970) as well as history (They Fought Alone, Lippincott, 1963; and Eminent Domain, Charterhouse,1973 )and two semi-autobiographical works (The New Romans, Lippincott, 1967; and Of Time and an Island, Charterhouse, 1974.) His love of travel and of the old wooden boats that passed his riverfront home prompted two additional works (See Europe Next Time You Go There, Little, Brown, 1968 and The Skiff and The River, Herrick Collection, 1988).

During his career Keats received the Washington Guild Front Page Award for best human interest story, June 2, 1949, in the Washington Daily News; The Literary Achievement Award from the Georgia Writers Association for non fiction in 1958 for his book, Schools Without Scholars; The Sydney Hillman Foundation Award for the 1962 television documentary, "Conformity" appearing on WCAU-TV in Philadelphia; a Colonial Dames of America Citation in 1977 for his book, "Whatever Happened to Mom's Apple Pie?" (Houghton, 1976) and a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship in 1961 to pursue his writing and research work for "They Fought Alone."

From 1974 until retiring in 1990, Keats taught magazine writing at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, in upper New York State. Proud of his ability at having earned a living as a writer, during lectures Keats was fond of echoing the famous lexicographer Samuel Johnson's dictum that "Only a blockhead writes for anything but money." He urged his students to aspire to obtain assignments from high profile, reputable publications and "not those that are commonly used to wrap fish."

Upon retirement, Mr. Keats resided part time in Italy; Savannah, Georgia; Washington, D.C., and Kingston, Ontario. He always maintained his summer home on the St. Lawrence River between Alexandria Bay, New York and Rockport, Ontario.

Reviews

[Ronald Schulz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read "They Fought Alone" by John C. Keats as a teen in 1965. It was Pocket Books; First Edition, published January 1, 1965, ASIN:‎ B00315RGSK, which has since been reprinted. In later years, through relatives and acquaintances of my Filipino wife, I met former guerillas and even a few whose family had thrown their lot in with the Japanese. History is ever complicated and is an enjoyable obsession, even though it can be dark and gloomy at times. Such is real life, but studying those who faced it with courage and even undaunted humor can bolster our spirits and enhance our life experience to surmount whatever obstacles come our way.

[a.t.m. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bataan survivor tells his story about survival after the Japanese invasion of the Philippines.

Great book about a man, who was a figure head in organizing and building an organization, that created hope against impossible odds in fighting the Japanese occupation. The times were incredibly difficult with no food, no communication with the outside world, spies in the villages, unspeakable atrocities by the Japanese, and there is more than this courageous man did to endure and preserve. I highly recommend this book.

[Don Diego · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good account of an interesting piece of World War II history, in the Philippines. An American officer exercises personal initiative and resourcefulness to fom an effective guerilla resistance force against Japanese occupiers.

[Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was actually an easy read about a very difficult and complex subject. I was looking for information on the Moro and although I didn’t find as much as I wished, I did get a background of how the island of Mindanao was able to operate such a sophisticated opposition to the Japanese.

[Lewis Shell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truth

I don't think this would appeal to many today, 2016, but to me whose dad was in the Pacific and mentioned this place, it was interesting.

The savagery of war and the strength to survive was more than evident.

I am so sorry for the Philippine people who suffered so much under the Japanese invasion and then by our own soldiers at the end. I am thankful that the Filipinos are still a people and that I know two ladies from there, one from Mindinao and one from Manilla.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author tells the story of Wendell Fertig's efforts to lead the guerrilla fighters in the Phillipines after the US surrender during WWII. The story begins with the surrender and ends with MacArthur's return. It is a fascinating story and very well researched and written. There is an obvious bias toward Fertig's side of the story, but the author does a great job of making it read like a novel, while capturing the frustrations and joys, successes and failures, and contextual events throughout this period.
The aspects of the book which were most interesting to me were the strengths and weaknesses of each of the guerilla leaders in their understanding of military tactics, operations and strategy, as well as their ability to grasp the cultural nuances of the country in which they were fighting, which was necessary to be successful and survive on the island. These skills apply everywhere, not just the Philippines in WWII, and it is a lesson that continues to be relevant today.

[Chuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

The courage of the men and women who refused to surrender in the Philippines is highlighted in this account of Lt Col Fetrig who took command on Mindano, organized a guerilla resitance and was there to greet MacArthur with a division worth of soliders and a band.

[Derailed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book, I had little knowledge of the subject and although written as a novel it was informative and has given me the desire to learn more on the subject