To start off the year, we will honor a team of heroes
Let me introduce...
The Lost Battalion!
The Lost Battalion was a moniker given to nine companies of the American 77th Infantry Division that became cut off and surrounded during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive of 1918. For a total of five days, faced an onslaught of repeated attacks that ate away at their numbers. Their story is considered one of the greatest of the American experience in World War I.
The men who would become the Lost Battalion were originally part of an attacking force during the Hundred Days Campaign. They were to be the center part of a three way attack force. With elements of the American 28th Infantry division on their right flank, and a corps of the French 4th Army on their left, the men of the Lost Battalion would hopefully penetrate deep into German positions in the Argonne Forest and secure a foothold. In command of the battalion was Major. Charles Whittlesey. Captain George McMurtry (a veteran Rough Rider) was second-in command. The attack on the German held Argonne forest began on the morning of October 2.
Whittlesey's battalion of about 575 was able to fight its way through the initial German fortifications and successfully penetrated at least six miles into German held territory. Unfortunately, the French and American units on the battalion's two flanks failed to achieve their objectives. As a result, the Lost Battalion became surrounded by thousands of German soldiers and stranded in the middle of the Argonne without any support. Realizing the gravity of his situation, Major Whittlesey quickly arranged his rifleman and machine gunners in an oval-shaped perimeter that was about 300 yards wide and 60 yards deep. They then waited for the German counter-attack.
They did not have to wait long. The Germans launched their attack just hours after the American battalion had dug in. For the next five days, the Germans launched attack after attack on the lost battalion. Both sides suffered heavy casualties in the vicious fighting that involved grenades, flame-throwers, and hand-to-hand combat. Any plane that attempted to supply the Lost Battalion was shot down by German gunners. Captain McMurtry was severely wounded early in the fighting, yet continued to fight and lead his men.
During a break in the German assaults, the Lost Battalion attempted to direct an artillery barrage on the Germans. They used pigeons to carry messages. The American artillery received the message and fired a barrage of artillery. Unfortunately it landed directly in the middle of the American battalion. In utter desperation, they sent their last carrier pigeon named, Cher Ami (dear friend) to deliver a message to stop the friendly fire. As soon a Cher Ami took flight, she was repeatedly shot at by the Germans. Despite being shot numerous times, she made it to American lines with the message and the friendly fire stopped.
The German's demanded the battalion surrender at least two times. Both times Major Whittlesey refused, even though more than half of his force was either dead, wounded, or missing. The vicious fighting continued for the next few days (eventually, Whittlesey himself had to enter the fray). It finally ended on October 7, when an American relief force broke through the German lines and forced the latter to retreat. By then the Lost Battalion had suffered 107 men killed, 190 wounded, and 63 missing/captured. Only 194 men were able to walk from the Argonne Forest. More than 26,000 American soldiers were killed while fighting in the Argonne Forest. The Meuse-Argonne Offensive was one of the last and bloodiest of World War I. The War ended just a month after the Lost Battalion was rescued.
Epilogue:
The men of the Lost Battalion were highly decorated and praised for their heroism. Seven (including Charles Whittlesey and George McMurtry) received the Congressional Medal of Honor for their heroism and at least 30 received the Distinguished Service Cross. The pigeon Cher Ami, received the Croix de Guerre for her heroism. Sadly, she died due to complications of her wounds in 1919.
Charles Whittlesey eventually retired from the military at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He later became an attorney and served as a pallbearer for the Unknown Soldier of World War I. Tragically, the invisible wounds of war proved too much for Whittlesey. Like millions of veterans around the world, he was continually haunted by his war experience. Whittlesey disappeared on November 26, 1921. He is presumed to have committed suicide. He was 37 years old. George McMurtry died on November 22, 1958 at the age of 82.
The men of the Lost Battalion were just a few of the millions of men and women who served their country during World War I. Like many before and after, they fought against overwhelming odds and not only survived, they won. As of today, they along with every other WWI veteran has passed on. Yet even now we should never forget their brave dedication and sacrifice. I believe that we should always remember the Lost Battalion's story just like we remember other great stories involving World War I.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2017/11/10/on-veterans-day-a-lost-battalion-a-war-hero-and-a-heartbreaking-suicide/?utm_term=.cf168a1562db
https://www.americanheritage.com/content/lost-battalion
https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2017/07/21/the-lost-battalion-of-world-war-i/
https://smleo.com/2016/02/02/george-g-mcmurtry-and-the-lost-battalion/
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