Major Charles White Whittlesey was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions between October 2 and 7, 1918 northeast of Binarville, in the Argonne Forest, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with 1st Battalion, 308th Infantry, 77th Division. Whittlesey was 34 years old.
2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on December 24, 1918. He later rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Whittlesey was born on January 20, 1884 in Florence, Florence County, Wisconsin. His Medal of Honor is credited to Pittsfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Whittlesey died on November 27, 1921 in at sea between New York & Cuba, at the age of 37. He is buried at Atlantic Ocean. His medal is held by Archives & Special Collections, Williams College, Williamstown, MA.
Whittlesey is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Although cut off for five 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 five days. Maj. Whittlesey and his command were cut off, and no rations or other supplies reached him, in spite of determined efforts which were made by his division. On the fourth 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.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
On the fourth 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.
- Manner of death: suicide
- Cause of death: drowning
- Age at death: 37
- Resting place: Atlantic Ocean
Cause and manner of death: Wikidata.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Western Front, World War I.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Occupations: jurist, lawyer
- Education: Harvard Law School, Williams College, Pittsfield High School
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →
Timeline
- January 20, 1884Born in Florence, Florence County, Wisconsin
- October 2 - 7, 1918Act of valor — northeast of Binarville, in the Argonne Forest, FranceAge 34. 1st Battalion, 308th Infantry, 77th Division
- December 24, 1918Medal of Honor presented
- November 27, 1921Died in at sea between New York & CubaAge 37.
- Resting placeAtlantic Ocean
Biography
Charles White Whittlesey (January 20, 1884 – November 26, 1921) was a United States Army Medal of Honor recipient who led the Lost Battalion in the Meuse–Argonne offensive during World War I. He committed suicide by drowning when he jumped from a ship en route to Havana on November 26, 1921, at age 37.
From the Wikipedia article “Charles W. Whittlesey”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
Further reading
- Major Charles W. Whittlesey and the Lost Battalioncmohs.org · 2021
- AUSA Graphic Novel Honors ‘Lost Battalion’ Commanderausa.org · 2024
