Lieutenant Ramsey's War

Matt McKeon

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The autobiography of a polo playing, somewhat thoughtless cavalry officer stationed in the Philippines when the Japanese invaded. He refused to surrender at Bataan and although practically crippled by various diseases and injuries, built a resistance movement of nearly forty thousand men and women. Fascinating account.
 

rittmeister

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the guy who promoted himself to brigadier? the reasoning was sth like 'the men need to believe that i'm in charge'
 

O' Be Joyful

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rittmeister

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I believe you are thinking of this guy, below.


This is also a good book concerning the Philippines resistance. And Fertig was also fictionalized in a couple of W.E.B Griffin novels.

yep

Recognizing that he needed a higher rank, so he would be taken seriously by potential recruits to his struggle, including the leaders of other existing guerrilla bands, Fertig promoted himself to brigadier general. This self-promotion to "brigadier general" did not endear him to General MacArthur or his staff, but MacArthur did send logistical support to Fertig throughout 1943 and 1944.
 

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The autobiography of a polo playing, somewhat thoughtless cavalry officer stationed in the Philippines when the Japanese invaded. He refused to surrender at Bataan and although practically crippled by various diseases and injuries, built a resistance movement of nearly forty thousand men and women. Fascinating account.
Despite being heavily outnumbered by an infantry force supported by tanks, Ramsey ordered the last cavalry charge in American military history. The surprised Japanese broke and fled.
 

Matt McKeon

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Struggling with wounds, illness, medical emergencies(he had his appendix removed without anesthesia), Ramsey had to undergo epics to get basic equipment like a radio. Many of his comrades, other American officers and Filipino resistance fighters are seized, tortured and executed by the Japanese occupiers. What a lonely, stressed out existence. By the time MacArthur returns in 1944, he's under 100 pounds and basically carried from place to place. But his organization provides invaluable intelligence to the Americans. His own thoughtless colonialistic attitude towards the Filipinos changes, and he learns both respect, and gratitude

MacArthur seems like a vainglorious figure to me, but his promise "I shall return" was absolutely believed and sustained the morale of both Americans and Filipinos.
 
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