Lost Battalion

He is buried at Sea in the Ocean off Cuba, however he has a "In Memory Of" marker in Pittsfield Cemetery, Pittsville MA. His Medal of Honor information and citation is: WHITTLESEY, CHARLES W. • Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Army, 308th Infantry, 77th Division • Place and date: Northeast of Binarville, in the forest of Argonne France, 2-7 October 1918 • Entered service at: Pittsfield, Mass. • G.O. No.: 118, W.D., 1918 Citation: Although cut off for 5 days from the remainder of his division, Maj. Whittlesey maintained his position, which he had reached under orders received for an advance, and held his command, consisting originally of 46 officers and men of the 308th Infantry and of Company K of the 307th Infantry, together in the face of superior numbers of the enemy during the 5 days. Maj. Whittlesey and his command were thus cut off, and no rations or other supplies reached him, in spite of determined efforts which were made by his division. On the 4th day Maj. Whittlesey received from the enemy a written proposition to surrender, which he treated with contempt, although he was at the time out of rations and had suffered a loss of about 50 percent in killed and wounded of his command and was surrounded by the enemy.

He is buried in Ledge Lawn Cemetery, Bar Harbor, ME. His Medal of Honor information and citation is: McMURTRY, GEORGE G. • Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, 308th Infantry, 77th Division • Place and date: At Charlevaux, in the forest of Argonne, France, 2-8 October 1918 • Entered service at: New York, N.Y. • G.O. No.: 118, W.D., 1918 Citation: Commanded a battalion which was cut off and surrounded by the enemy and although wounded in the knee by shrapnel on 4 October and suffering great pain, he continued throughout the entire period to encourage his officers and men with a resistless optimism that contributed largely toward preventing panic and disorder among the troops, who were without food, cut off from communication with our lines. On 4 October during a heavy barrage, he personally directed and supervised the moving of the wounded to shelter before himself seeking shelter. On 6 October he was again wounded in the shoulder by a German grenade, but continued personally to organize and direct the defense against the German attack on the position until the attack was defeated. He continued to direct and command his troops, refusing relief, and personally led his men out of the position after assistance arrived before permitting himself to be taken to the hospital on 8 October. During this period the successful defense of the position was due largely to his efforts

Private Cecil Cervantes Miranda

The Lost Battalion suffered extremely high casualties. Only 194 Soldiers (out of 697) were able to walk out of the ravine on the afternoon of Oct. 8. The rest of the Lost Battalion was dead, wounded or sick, missing or taken as prisoners of war. Whittlesey and the only two other officers who walked out that day each were awarded the Medal of Honor for holding the command together under incredibly difficult circumstances. - www.army.mil