Skip to Content
Register · Login
About Theme

A Letterboxing Community

Atlas Quest
Search Edit Search

Read Thread: 100 Years ago - The Forgotten Fight of the Belleau (Bell-ow)

Re: 100 Years ago - The Forgotten Fight of the Belleau Wood
Board: History is Alive
Reply to: #968185 by DoubleSaj and Old Blue
Nov 11, 2018 9:11am
Thread (disabled) Board
Thank you for sharing!
Re: 100 Years ago - The Forgotten Fight of the Belleau Wood
Board: History is Alive
Reply to: #968185 by DoubleSaj and Old Blue
Nov 11, 2018 9:04pm
Thread (disabled) Board
The Lost Battalion is the name given to the nine companies of the United States 77th Division, roughly 554 men, isolated by German forces during World War I after an American attack in the Argonne Forest in October 1918. Commanded by Major Charles White Whittlesey a Lawyer from NY. Most of his men were from New York City. During the October Muse-Arregone battle, Maj. Whittlesay was ordered to take the high ground with an American regiment on his left flank and a French on his right. His commanding General Ordering him to Advance and do not retreat. Both of the flanking units were stalled in their advance and were ordered to retreat, only Maj. Whittlesay's unit managed to make it to the high ground. They did not know of the other units not advancing, nor did he know he was surrounded at first. His troops mostly made up of the working poor from every Ghetto of NY. Many of them learning of the bigger world, did not want to just go back to pushing carts, but had hope for something more. A lieutenant from the American forces was captured and was interrogated by the german military. Specifically why they were not surrendering or taking the opportunity to retreat to their lines. The lieutenant plainly spoke to the german officer that the US Army cleared out every Ghetto from NY finding every Gangster they could, Gave them a riffle and then something they never had. Hope, for a better future. The German military had been fighting a Gentleman's War with the French and British, all this time. You take some ground, you give some up, you surrender when surrounded, you retreat, to try again. The Americans fighting over there, were reclass as it was put. Why retreat when you just fought so hard to get the land you got, why surrender, I can still fight. Specifically in the case of Bellue Woods, one infamous quote from a marine officer after being ordered to retreat " Retreat, Hell we just got here"
Re: 100 Years ago - The Forgotten Fight of the Belleau Wood
Board: History is Alive
Reply to: #968218 by StasiaBoo
Nov 12, 2018 8:30am
Thread (disabled) Board
I think the attitude of, "Hell we just got here" was prevalent among all of the Americans.

Interesting story, great post!

Old Blue