New York City draftee Soldiers made history as the Lost Battalion in October 1918
Lt. Col. Charles Wittlesey, the New York lawyer originally from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, who led the "Lost Battalion" of the 77th Division in October 1918, receives the Medal of Honor from General Clarence Edwards during a ceremony on Boston Common on Dec. 30. 1918. Wittlesey, the commander of the 1st Battalion, 308th Infantry Regiment took command of his unit and elements of the 2nd Battalion 308th Infantry when they were cut off by German troops in October, 1918. He refused repeated surrender demands and the troops held out for five days. (National Archives)