Donn Fendler

Donn Charles Fendler was an American author, highly decorated military veteran, and public speaker best known for surviving a harrowing childhood ordeal in the wilderness. In July 1939, at just 12 years old, he became separated from his family during a sudden, freezing storm on Maine’s Mount Katahdin. Relying on basic Boy Scout training and sheer determination, he managed to survive for nine grueling days without food or proper clothing. He walked roughly 35 miles through dense woods before finding a remote hunting camp, an incredible feat of resilience that captivated the entire nation and earned him a youth heroism medal from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. As an adult, Fendler fulfilled his lifelong dream of military service and went on to have a highly distinguished 28-year career in the armed forces. He first enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II, serving in the Pacific theater. He later transitioned to the U.S. Army, where he commissioned into the Special Forces as a Green Beret and served during the Vietnam War. By the time he retired from active duty in 1978, he had achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel. Fendler permanently cemented his literary legacy by co-authoring his famous childhood memoir, Lost on a Mountain in Maine, with Joseph B. Egan. The book became a beloved regional classic and required reading for generations of grade school children. Fendler spent his retirement years traveling to schools to speak with students, emphasizing outdoor safety, hope, and a "never-give-up" attitude. His timeless survival story continued to inspire audiences long after his passing in 2016, ultimately being adapted into a feature film produced by Sylvester Stallone.