Medal of Honor: Charles White Whittlesey, World War I, October 2–7, 1918
For five days in the Argonne, surrounded and starving, Major Charles Whittlesey refused surrender—holding his ground with what history would remember as “The Lost Battalion.”
October 7, 2025
Name: Charles White Whittlesey
Rank: Major
War: World War I
Dates of Action: October 2–7, 1918
Unit: 308th Infantry Regiment, 77th Division
Entered Service At: Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Born: Florence, Wisconsin
Summary of Action
In early October 1918, during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Major Charles Whittlesey led elements of his 308th Infantry and Company K of the 307th Infantry deep into the forest northeast of Binarville, France. Ordered to advance, his unit moved forward—only to discover that supporting forces on both flanks had fallen back, leaving them completely surrounded. For five harrowing days, Whittlesey and his men, roughly 550 strong, endured relentless German attacks, artillery barrages, and dwindling supplies. Cut off from communication and without food, they suffered over 50 percent casualties. On October 4, a German envoy approached under a white flag with a written demand for surrender. Whittlesey, exhausted but unbroken, reportedly gave a simple, defiant response: “You can go to hell.” Refusing to yield, he inspired his men to hold their position until relief finally broke through on October 7. His calm leadership, unshakable courage, and refusal to surrender under impossible odds made him one of the most enduring symbols of American resolve in World War I.
Medal of Honor Citation
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. Birth: Florence, Wis. 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.
