The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
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.
|
