"The white man’s prejudice followed the Negro to the Philippines, then a thousand miles from where it originated." Here is an impression of David Fagen, an American Traitor, A Filipino Hero. The Untold Story of David Fagen, an Unsung Hero of the Philippines Who is he? David Fagen, an African-American soldier, was part of the American forces before he defected to Emilio Aguinaldo’s army during the Philippine-American War (1899-1902). Born in Tampa, Florida around 1875, Fagen enlisted in the 24th Infantry, one of the four Black regiments who arrived in the Philippines to fight with white American troops. As part of the 24th Regiment, Fagen was involved in several major battles against insurrectos in Central Luzon. However, the overwhelming racism perpetrated by their white comrades threw Fagen into a dilemma. Soon, Fagen grew sympathetic towards Filipinos who were also a “colored” race fighting for their own freedom. On November 17, 1899, Fagen defected to the Filipino army and made his way to the rebel’s sanctuary at Mount Arayat, Pampanga. Known by his men as “General Fagen”, he clashed with his former allies at least eight times between 1900 and early 1901. He is best remembered for leading his men in capturing an American steam launch in Pampanga, and later seizing its cargo of guns. Due to his exemplary skills, Fagen was promoted by General Jose Alejandrino from first lieutenant to captain on September 6, 1900. The New York Times also featured Fagen on its front page and described him as “cunning and highly skilled guerilla officer.” As insurrecto leaders were captured one by one, Fagen reportedly took refuge in the mountains of Nueva Ecija together with his Filipina wife. In 1901, he was being hunted as a bandit with a $1000 price on his head. Later, a Filipino hunter named Anastacio Bartolome delivered a sack to the American authorities containing the alleged head of Fagen. He claimed that he killed Fagen while he was bathing in a river with his wife and a group of Aetas. However, it was never confirmed whether Bartolome received his reward. Official army records, on the other hand, describe the incident as the “supposed killing of David Fagen.” The Philippine Constabulary also reported about occasional sightings of the black rebel during the ensuing months. Although his death is still shrouded with mystery, it is said that Fagen fabricated his own death so he could live peacefully in the mountains with his Filipina wife. Source: https://filipiknow.net/philippine-heroes-with-foreign-blood/ Thank you to anyone reading this post and I hope people will know his story :)