Music Case

As you read, THINK about what you learn about Whittlesey. What kind of person might he have been? If you could meet him, what would you ask him and why? If you ask yourself these questions, you can deepen your awareness of the information. Does the story inspire you in any way? Could you use this in SROTC, how?

In April 1917, the US army entered the First World War and US forces that participated in the Western Front, were under the command of General Pershing. General Pershing was upset with the failure of US forces, which were unable to destroy the German troops in their area. Pershing directed the US 77th Division, which was under Major Alexander and this division was supposed to launch a measured attack o the Germans, in the dense, wooded and hilly Argonne Forest. Whittlesey's battalion was also participating in this attack, which began on 2nd October 1918. There were 456 soldiers from different battalions.

In Argonne forest Whittlesey and his battalion survived for five days and six nights with a lack of food, medication and ammunition. This battalion refused to surrender before the enemy and it became very popular battalion. Whittlesey’s battalion breached the enemy defense in the Argonne forests. Whittlesey's 1st Battalion was the single resource to reach the destination, which was set for the objective of a road junction at the Charlevaux Mill.

The second battalion joined Whittlesey’s battalion and in the meantime the German forces blocked all the communication and the two battalions found them captured in the German lines. Whittlesey was a sharp soldier and he had chosen his position well in the “The Pocket”, which was located on a steep, wooden inverse slope. Men of Whittlesey’s battalion could save themselves from attacks by hiding in the pocket. Still, many men were wounded and many died and Whittlesey stressed on the fact that his decisions led to the death of his soldiers. However he