David Fagen (1875-?), sometimes written Fagan or Fagin, was a black American soldier who deserted in 1899 during the Philippine American War and fought for the Philippines.
The American War Department doubted that blacks:
if brought face to face with their colored Filipino cousins could be made to fire on them.
In the end it sent over 6,000 black soldiers. Fagen was one of them. He was a corporal in the 24th Infantry, a black regiment based in his home town of Tampa, Florida. It left San Francisco in June 1899, sent to help crush Philippine independence.
White soldiers called the war “nigger killing business”. They called the Filipinos “niggers” and other names day after day. They spat on them, pushed them off the streets, kicked them, hit them, felt no need to respect them. They burned down their houses and drove them off their land into “protection zones”, where thousands died. They shot down men, women and children.
Black soldiers wrote home calling the war “an unholy war of conquest”, “a gigantic scheme of robbery and oppression”. One informed Booker T. Washington that:
These people are right and we are wrong and terribly wrong.
Another said:
The future of the Filipino, I fear, is that of the Negro in the South.
This was at a time in America when two blacks on average were being lynched every week.
Twenty blacks deserted – surprisingly high compared to past wars. Some had even served in the army for 20 years or more. And they did not simply desert: many joined the Philippine Army. One effect of this was better shooting on the part of Filipinos, who were poorly trained compared to Americans.
Five black deserters were later caught:
- Lewis Russell – hanged
- Edmond Du Bose – hanged
- Garth Shores – life in prison at Fort Leavenworth
- William Victor – life in prison at Fort Leavenworth
- John Dalrymple – “killed while escaping custody”
Fagen deserted on November 17th 1899. For two years he fought under General Alejandrino. After a year he made captain and led 350 to 400 men, who regarded him as a hero. He spoke Tagalog and had a Filipina wife.
He fought the Americans at least eight times, particularly against General Funston, who wanted his head. One time Fagen took 20 Americans prisoners. Another time he led 150 men to take an American river boat and made off with its guns.
He made the front page of the New York Times, which informed its readers that he was:
cunning and highly skilled guerilla officer who harassed and evaded large conventional American units.
In 1901 when General Alejandrino at last had to surrender he refused to give up Fagen:
The surrender of Fagan is an infamy I cannot commit because I know that if you get to catch him, you are capable of dousing him in petroleum and burning him alive.
Alejandrino gave Fagen 12 rifles and Fagen disappeared. Into the mountains of Nueva Ecija.
Funston put up wanted posters in every town of Nueva Ecija. He offered a reward, “dead or alive” of $600 (1,100 crowns).
Fagen was never found.
See also:
- Philippine-American War
- white man’s burden
- Jim Crow
- The Aeta – who lived in the mountains of Nueva Ecija
Good post, his name stood out in the post on the Philippine-American War
Although i would like to know why is it surprising high that twenty black soldier deserted ?
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J Greyden
Surprisingly high compared to the rate of desertion in the Spanish American War. Also surprising because it was higher than the white rate of desertion. Blacks generally deserted at a lower rate since they, unlike whites, felt they had to prove their patriotism and courage (which whites doubted). But not surprising, of course, when you consider the kind of war it was.
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Fascinating historical account Abagond!!!
I never knew any of this.
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Along with Kid Blink, David Fagen is one of my heroes for 2010.
(Kid Blink here… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newsboys_Strike_of_1899)
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I dunno about that “surprisingly high compared to past wars”, however. In the Civil War, for example, it was quite common for a regiment to lose up to 20% of its men due to desertion. The U.S. military was still very much tied to the militia concept in those days. 20 out of 6000 seems par for the course. Joining up with the Filipinos, though, now that takes balls!
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I just wonder who will make the movie? Better be a good one. I don’t want David Hassehoff to play the lead, even if stormfront dudes would!
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“Funston put up wanted posters in every town of Nueva Ecija. He offered a reward of $600, “dead or alive”.
Fagen was never found.” This is the stuff the legends are made of. Why on earth nobody of the black Hollywood stars haven’t noticed this story?
I know one thing: US Army film office would not assist this production.
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Maybe the filipino army would, however.
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thank you for sharing this awesome post! I loved it! I’m a director/writer/producer/editer: I’ll film this movie!
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@ sheree: get Denzel on the project and you will get some financial support as well!!
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So who gets to play David?
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Fantastic! What a great story!!
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I would love to make Fagen’s story into a film.
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Thanks for this post Abagond
On the subject of movies; one of my greatest desires is to see a miniseries like Band of Brothers and The Pacific, that focuses on non-white soldiers.
There are so many stories that need to be told.
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Thanks, Abagond! I was looking for info about this man.
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Ask Denzel… and owe him later… no thank you. he runs with Jay Z and the rest of them. Nope, staying far away as possible from them LOL!
Hmm… I was thinking about that as well. DB Woodside (Blue in the “temptations movie”) was a first choice, then Idris Alba then I stopped: need to do more research. But if it does get made, it will be a made for tv movie; not a theater one. As awesome as this movie will be, it won’t be an easy seller to draw people out so airing it on television saves money all around.
And David hasslehoff? Really? i hope you were joking about the thought. I was thinking a key player in the game, like Viggo Mortenson or his co actor in crime, Ed Harris. At least we all know they are just good actors and don’t have any pent up aggression regarding racism. Both are very docile off screen.
But who knows; it will be some years. Maybe I’ll do a small scale production and air it late night somewhere.
Who knows.
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Robert Downey Jr.
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@sheree: was I jokin about the Hoff?? 😀 Really…
But seriously, you can do it digitally for both: tv and theater. Put it out in US as a tv movie and to the festival circuit as an theater movie.
And Idris Elba would make a great Fagen.
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Clarke Peters would be perfect for the role. Amirite? Though he may be a tad too old.
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Elba would be good, too, but I’m more for Peters.
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I don’t think a lot of white American actors would line up to be in a film where they don’t come out looking good at all.
Might have to recruit Canadians.
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Nah. Just get Spike Lee’s crew. They’ll do.
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@ankh: Well, I think Robert Duvall did a nice portrait in Apocalypse Now with his role of colonel Killgore. Nice lines like: “I love the smell of napalm in the morning, it smells like… Victory. You know, soon this war will be over…” and then he looks at the distance in mournful way, feeling sad that this nice war will be gone and there is no more napalm to sniff.
One of the worst white guys in movies ever. And very much a portrait of a white american male, cavalry stetson and all… 😀 Too bad he’s gettin old
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Also Audie Murphy as Alden Pyle in “The Quiet American”. Contrary to what Ank apparently thinks, there are plenty of white actors who are more than will8ing to portray unsavory whites. Actors, as a rule, take work where they can get it.
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…or Brendan Fraser as Alden Pyle in the 2002 remake.
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This is why I subscribe to your blog, Abagond — School us!
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Good post. I’d never heard about this guy before.
I agree, this would make an incredible story. It would mix all kinds of themes. War, imperialism, racism, human drama, interracial romance(when he marries the Filipino woman), how he integrates into Filipino society. It’d be pretty fascinating on all levels if done right, but like another poster said, it would have limited appeal in America.
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Man! I wish they made a movie about this…it would be soooo interesting. But will it ever? Probably not.
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Good to know! Teach this stuff in school, teachers!
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@ sam
Yeah, but American viewers probably just found him amusing or eccentric. They weren’t looking too deeply.
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Any race would have done the same in reverse, as oppressed people tend to land on the side of compassion for people under similar circumstances [Schindler]. Also note, his fears were not correct…. as most fear isn’t. African-Americans had no trouble fighting other wars in similar circumstances in which the skin tone of the enemy was light. In fact, many sects of the country wanted America’s involvement because of what it meant FOR the country, as well as a heavily anti-Spain establishment.
You wouldn’t expect this from say a waring African tribe that was going to be the winner.
Again. this is another one that has little to nothing to do with race, just circumstance. Granted, it was noble of him.
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3Dec2010
I just mentioned this information to John Sayles maker of the new film ” Amigo ” about the Philippine War 1899. I don’t know yet his respond. You guys can check his site in the facebook just type the word ” Amigo ” and leave some message or feed back.
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I read from some forums that the 20 American Deserter are not all Blacks, 16 of them are White Americans and 4 black Buffalo Soldiers.
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What an interesting story. I’m from Tampa, have read a little about the Phillipine war, but never heard about this guy. I’ll be hitting the microfilm for the local papers tomorrow. Hopefully he got some press, and who knows if he has any family here who remember his name or fame. It might be interesting to see how he was treated by the black press and white press of the time.
As to movie potential, yes this could be a blockbuster in a heartbeat.
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Hello…..
Very nice topic…..I learn more stuff about Fagen from this site..
I’m an artist from Bataan, Philippines…..I’ve got interested to Sgt. David Fagen’s story. So last year, I decided to create an illustration of him as a soldier in US army then as private wearing the Filipino Army Rayadillo……then as a captain in Gen. Aguinaldo’s Republican Army. His story captivates me…..I hope there is a film about him. Very interesting……
Heres the link of my illustration
Salamat and Mabuhay po kayo !
Ishreh
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World Premiere of
BUFFALO’ED
April 4-29, 2012 San Jose Stage Co., San Jose, CA http://www.thestage.org
Recipient of the Wallace Alexander Gerbode/William & Flora Hewlett Foundations Playwright Collaboration Initiative – film rights TBA
/Users/jbarroga/Desktop/MISCJan2010/BUFF2010/SCRIPT versionsPerWkshp/WORKSHOPS2011/DEC8to12-2011/Postcard-blurbs-graphics/DescripFeb2012.tiff
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[…] David Fagen « AbagondView Carey Fagan’s professional profile on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is the world’s largest business network, helping professionals like Carey Fagan discover inside … […]
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[…] ^ https://abagond.wordpress.com/2010/10/04/david-fagen/ […]
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This is a fascinating post. Never heard of this . This is truly what legends are made of. Spike Lee should do research and turn this into a movie. Anthony Mackey could portray Fagan.
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Hey guys, I am developing a film about Fagen. Here is the trailer preceded by a mock pitch at the front. Let me know your thoughts. christopher@davidfagen.com. https://vimeo.com/65594787
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[…] David Fagen | Abagond […]
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There were 6 defectors who were caught. Read my articles on the Magnificent 7 (Fagen being the 7th) or African American anti-imperialist fighters (google these-or look at the Black Agenda Report (referenced at the end of the Wiki… article on David Fagen).
Gill H Boehringer.
gill_boehringer@hotmail.com
Another great story is about Fagen’s friend and comrade in the 24th (later the 25th)-Sgt. Major John W. Calloway. Court martialled, imprisoned and broken to Pvt because he wrote a letter to a Filipino family expressing the view they were in the right, and he thought they should have their freedom. The US Army intelligence raided the family and found the letter. You can google calloway, send me an email or buy the book in which it is a chapter-Hazel McFerson, Mixed Blessing, 2nd edition, 2011 (University of the Philippines Press)
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