John Fitzgerald

Family in Crisis: the United States, the Philippines, and the Second World War John Fitzgerald Revised edition

The United States established a colony in the Philippines following the Spanish-American War and an unsuccessful revolution. Promising the Filipino people independence, they were on that road when the Second World War erupted in December, 1941. The Philippine Commonwealth had brought in retired Army Chief of Staff Douglas MacArthur to prepare themselves for self defense. He had a goal of self- sufficiency by April, 1944. Until then the under strength, poorly equipped, and in the Philippines, old American forces would protect them against the Japanese. Family in Crisis examines the heroic but futile efforts of the Americans and their fledgling allies, and then chronicles the superb guerrilla warfare efforts mounted by the Filipino people, aided by a small group of American survivors of Bataan and beyond. In many cases the Americans leading the effort were inexperienced reserve officers, many only Lieutenants. Their Filipino counterparts ranged from retirees to students, many of whom became the country's leaders after independence was achieved after the war. All the characters are there from MacArthur and his old Brigadiers in 1942 through the Captains, Lieutenants, and Sergeants who led the insurgent forces. Also on hand is Ferdinand Marcos who rose from 3rd Lieutenant to Lt. Colonel and ultimately to President and Dictator. The United States kept its promise, the Filipinos were fiercely loyal, and the Family in Crisis prevailed.