David Fagen

A native of Tampa, Florida, USA, David Fagen (1875-?) was one of fewer than five African Americans who defected during the Philippine-American War. Fagen acquired the rank of Captain in the Filipino Army.

Service

Fagen served in the 24th Regiment of the U.S. Army, but in November 1899 defected to the Filipino army. He became a successful guerrilla leader and his capture became an obsession to the U.S. military and American public. His defection was likely the result of differential treatment by American occupational forces toward black soldiers, as well as common American forces derogatory treatment and views of the Filipino occupational resistance, who were frequently referred to as 'niggers' in a seemingly inverse code switching of the term at the time by white American forces.

After two other black deserters were captured and executed, President Theodore Roosevelt announced he would stop executing captured deserters.

Supposed Death

As the war ended, the US gave amnesties to most of their opponents. A substantial reward was offered for Fagen, who was considered a traitor. There are two conflicting versions of his fate: one is that his was the partially decomposed head for which the reward was claimed, the other is that he took a local wife and lived peacefully in the mountains.