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Running Head: REMEMBERING 1: The Lost Battalion

The document discusses a true story from World War 1 about Major Charles Whittesley and the 77th battalion, known as the Lost Battalion. It describes how Major Whittesley, a lawyer from New York with little military experience, was put in charge of the battalion and given an impossible mission by his superiors. The document also discusses the ethnic diversity of the battalion's soldiers and how they were able to overcome their differences and fight loyally for each other despite being abandoned by their superior officers.

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74 views3 pages

Running Head: REMEMBERING 1: The Lost Battalion

The document discusses a true story from World War 1 about Major Charles Whittesley and the 77th battalion, known as the Lost Battalion. It describes how Major Whittesley, a lawyer from New York with little military experience, was put in charge of the battalion and given an impossible mission by his superiors. The document also discusses the ethnic diversity of the battalion's soldiers and how they were able to overcome their differences and fight loyally for each other despite being abandoned by their superior officers.

Uploaded by

Jacob
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Running head: REMEMBERING THE LOST BATTALION 1

Jacob Bayne

EIU-4160G

06/29/2020

Dr. Jinhee Lee

Remembering the Lost Battalion

The Lost Battalion

2001, United States of America


REMEMBERING THE LOST BATTALION 2

Introduction

What does a lawyer from New York know about war? What does he know about

leadership? These are just a few of the questions Major Whitlessley’s men asked once he was

placed in charge of their Battalion. He is immediately given an impossible mission from his

superiors, knowing that they will sustain many casualties, he argues that it is a suicide mission.

He is called a coward and told to proceed with the assignment, he gathers his men and prepares

them for battle against the Germans. This true story of American men from many ethnic

backgrounds, following their steadfast leader Major Charles Whittesley into battle, is one of the

most courageous stories in American war history. Experience or the lack there of was a trend and

a war in itself throughout the movie. Brotherhood, loyalty, and the will to live are evident in the

film, however, the lack of concern for American life by the superior officers is extremely

disheartening. It was almost as though they should have been called the abandoned Battalion.

From the beginning it is apparent that experience will be a major issue for the soldiers in

the 77th battalion. Major Whitlessley himself has little experience in tactical operations and many

of the soldiers he is given are fresh recruits from basic training. Several of his men are not

accustom to war and on a few occasions, he risks his own life to perform basic soldier skills such

as reloading a weapon or applying medical aid, these are not typical duties for a battalion

commander.

“I’m here because I am an American” “Don’t you ever say that I’m not American”!

These heartfelt words spoken by Private Krotoshinksy, a Polish immigrant who was extremely

proud of his American citizenship show us that many of the immigrants would have rather died

for America than live without freedom in their home countries. This statement truly resonated

with a lot of his colleagues as they were primarily poor immigrants themselves or from the lower
REMEMBERING THE LOST BATTALION 3

class in New York. These men put aside their ethnic differences and fought not only for

themselves but for one another which is how I believe they survived.

The brotherhood and loyalty that comes with war show that it is possible to overcome the

impossible and put aside our social and ethnic differences when we are all fighting for the same

cause. These men were abandoned by their superior officers and even killed by fratricide;

however, they fought for one another and won the battle.

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