03/28/2025
There are only 2 weeks before the Camporee! Time to start looking at the weather forecast and to get packing!
Another excellent example of Army and Scouting values overlapping are Duty and Obedience, specifically during the Muse-Argon offensive of the Great War.
During the Muse-Argon offensive, the 307th Infantry Regiment participated in fierce fighting over Chalevaux Ravine in October, 1918. Their sister regiment, the 308th IR, was ordered to occupy and hold the critical ravine against German attacks. When the Germans attacked on the morning of 3 October, most of the 308th was encircled along with K company of the 307th, totaling roughly 700 men. These men, lead by Major Whittlesey, commander of the 1st Battalion, 308th IR, held their ground for five days against German machinegun and flamethrower assaults. They were completely cut off from their brigade command, resulting in one of the first attempted large scale aerial resupply operations. Captain Holderman, Company Commander of K Company, 307th IR, led a breakout attempt the afternoon of 3 October, which the Germans repulsed with severe American casualties. The “Lost Battalion” also endured American artillery fire for nearly an hour, until Whittlesey used the force’s last carrier pigeon, Cher Ami, to tell the American artillery that they were aiming at friendly units. Throughout all of this – relentless German attacks, dwindling food, water, and ammunition, and severe casualties – the Lost Battalion persisted until 7 October, when B Company, 307th IR successfully made contact with the beleaguered force. Less than 200 men walked out of their positions without assistance. All of these men followed their orders and held their ground until they were relieved, no matter the hardships they faced, demonstrating obedience to their orders and their sense of duty to their fellow soldiers.
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