Guy Fort

Guy O. Fort (January 1, 1879 – November 11, 1942) was a brigadier general in the Philippine Army under the control of the United States Army Forces in the Far East. Fort led the 81st Division (Philippines) during the initial Battle of the Philippines and the Japanese invasion of Malabang. After fighting a last-ditch stand, Fort was ordered by his higher command to surrender and be taken prisoner by Japanese forces. His captors demanded Fort help persuade his former soldiers engaged in guerrilla warfare to stop resisting the occupation. Fort refused and was executed by firing squad. Fort is the only American-born general officer to be executed by enemy forces.

Life

Guy Osborne Fort was born in 1879 to Jacob Marvin Fort and Lena Fulkerson in Kellerville, Michigan, in an area now known as Traverse City. The family later moved to Gloversville, New York, where Fort enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1899. dying at the start of World War II. While in the constabulary, he also served briefly as the interim governor of the province of Agusan.

World War II

In November 1941, facing the pending Japanese invasion of the Philippines, the constabulary became part of the Philippine Army under the control of the United States Army Forces in the Far East. That month Fort was sent to Bohol to take command of the 81st Division (Philippines). On December 20, 1941, Fort was promoted to brigadier general. and planned a defense in depth for his sector. Foreseeing defeat, he also prepared his division to wage guerrilla warfare against the Japanese.

Fort's 81st Division began fighting on April 29, 1942, against the better organized and equipped Japanese army. resulting in heavy Japanese casualties. However, the Japanese also continually pushed the defenders back.

Surrender and execution

After making a last-ditch stand against the Japanese on Mindanao, Fort received orders to surrender from his higher command. However, despite surrendering Fort let the Maranaos claim the U.S. Army's rifles and equipment, which they would then use in guerrilla warfare. Fort was then escorted by the Kempeitai to Manila, where he remained for several months. In November 1942 the Japanese sought Fort's help in talking to the Moro people, who had started a new rebellion against the occupying forces. Specifically, Fort was supposed to tell the Moro that since the U.S. Army had surrendered they must also surrender. An Allied war crimes tribunal later sentenced Tanaka to death by hanging for the executions of Fort and three other Americans, and he was executed at Sugamo Prison on April 9, 1949. After Fort's execution Moro guerrilla groups staged revenge attacks against Japanese forces. named Ignacio S. Cruz said he located Fort's remains and turned them over to the American Graves Registration Service. and six other families of missing soldiers filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government's Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. The families are seeking an order to exhume the bodies of Fort and others and do DNA tests to identify the remains. Purple Heart Prisoner of War Medal Philippine Campaign Medal American Defense Service Medal with "Foreign Service" clasp Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal with campaign star

World War II Victory Medal Philippine Defense Medal with star