Donn Fendler

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Don Fendler

On July 17, 1939, twelve year old Donn Fendler of Rye, New York, was sepearated from his family and became lost on Maine's Mt. 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 eating whatever 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] In the book, Donn told 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]