Donn Fendler

Donn Fendler

On July 17, 1939, twelve year old Donn Fendler of Rye, New York, (born 1927) was separated from his family and became lost on Maine's Mount Katahdin. His disappearance launched a manhunt which became front page news throughout the nation, and involved hundreds of volunteers.^[1] Donn survived for 9 days without food, water or proper clothing, before following a stream and telephone line out of the woods near Stacyville, Maine.^[2] In September 1998, a map was published with the trail he'd followed.^[3] Fendler was dehydrated, covered with insect bites, and 16 pounds lighter than at the beginning of his odyssey, but otherwise unharmed. He credited his experience as a Boy Scout in helping him survive by remembering that he should follow the stream downhill, by eating what he could find, and attempting to shield himself as best as possible during the frigid nights.^[4]

He became the subject of a book, Donn Fendler - Lost On A Mountain In Maine, by Joseph B. Egan,^[5] which has become a Maine children's classic. Written from his perspective as a young boy, Donn tells his harrowing story from start to finish. He tells of experiencing hallucinations due to fatigue and hunger, as well as losing most of his clothing. After his rescue President Franklin D. Roosevelt presented him with the Army & Navy Legion of Valor's annual medal ^[6] for outstanding youth hero of 1939.^[7] Donn was feted with a parade in his honor, and featured in an article in Life Magazine.^[8] Almost seventy years later, he's still called on to recount his story.^[9] On the seventieth anniversary of the event, Donn was interviewed by the Bangor Daily News and said that he survived by not only by eating berries, but by his "never-give-up attitude," his faith in God and his prayers. Mothers from all over the United States sent prayers to his mother by Western Union. "They did that in those days," he said. "I think it worked, because I am still standing here," he said.^[10]

Donn Fendler now lives in Clarksville, Tennessee, but spends his summers in Newport, Maine. Each fall he visits schools in Maine to tell his story and answer children's questions about his experience on the mountain.^[11]

References

1. ^ "Katahdin: An Historic Journey". AMC Outdoors. Appalachian Mountain Club. 2006–11. http://www.outdoors.org/publications/outdoors/2006/katahdin.cfm. Retrieved 2008-02-29. 
2. ^ "Former Boy Scout Receives Long Overdue Fishing License". Winston-Salem Journal. 2007-06-06. http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173351502718&path=!nationworld&s=1037645509161. Retrieved 2008-02-29. 
3. ^ "Trail Map". Appleseeds 1 (1): 22–23. 1998. http://connection.ebscohost.com/content/article/1032631962.html. 
4. ^ "Fendler Boy Found Alive in Woods Eight Days After Beicoming Lost; Found in Maine Woods". The New York Times. 1939-07-26. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70B15FE3A5C1B7B93C4AB178CD85F4D8385F9. Retrieved 2008-02-29. 
5. ^ Fendler, Donn; Joseph Egan (1992). Lost on a Mountain in Maine. Harper Collins. p. 112. ISBN 068811573X. 
6. ^ "President's Week". Time. 1940-10-28. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,764857,00.html. Retrieved 2008-02-29. 
7. ^ "Donn Fendler to Receive '39 Legion Valor Medal". The New York Times. 1940-10-11. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00715F63B5A11728DDDA80994D8415B8088F1D3. Retrieved 2008-02-29. 
8. ^ "Donn Fendler". Life. 1939-08-07. http://www.2neatmagazines.com/life/1939.html. Retrieved 2008-02-29. 
9. ^ Jeannine Guttman (2007-03-25). "Storytelling Evolves to Reflect its Era". Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/insight/guttman/070325jeannine.html. Retrieved 2008-02-29. 
10. ^ Katahdin rescue memories fresh after 70 years,Morning Sentinel,7-17-2009, Nok-Noi Ricker
11. ^ http://www.donnfendler.com/ Donn Fendler website, maintained by John Thurlow; accessed February 19, 2010

Persondata
Name	Fendler, Donn
Alternative names	Fendler, Donny
Short description
Date of birth	1920's
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death

Mazie Gordon