[2] Donn survived for nine days without food or proper clothing, before following a stream and telephone line out of the woods near Stacyville, Maine.

[2] Fendler survived for nine days without proper food or clothing before following a stream and telephone line out of the woods near Stacyville, Maine.

He credited his experience as a Boy Scout in helping him survive by remembering that he should follow the stream downhill, eating what he could find, and attempting to shield himself as best as possible during the frigid nights.

[6] Written from his perspective as a young boy, Fendler told of his experience, from suffering hallucinations due to fatigue and hunger, as well as losing most of his clothing (including his trousers and shoes, which he attempted to throw across a stream, only to watch them float away in the water).

[7] After his rescue, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt presented him with the Army & Navy Legion of Valor's annual medal for outstanding youth hero of 1939.

[11] On the 70th anniversary of the event, Fendler was interviewed by the Bangor Daily News, in which he stated that he survived not only by eating strawberries and checkerberries, but by his "never-give-up attitude" through his faith in God and his prayers.