Major Charles Whittlesey, U.S. Army, Medal of Honor Recipient

Whittlesey of 308th Infantry, 77th Division was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions northeast of Binarville, in the Argonne Forest of France on October 2-7, 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.

 

Courtesy of the College Archives and Special Collections, Williams College