The Monument to The Lost Battalion at the Apremont-Binarville Road in the Argonne Forest, France.

In the late morning of October 2nd, 1918, men from the 308th Infantry Regiment (1st Battalion) entered into the thin ravine of Charlevaux, a bit outside of the town of Binarville. In the night the Germans began to occupy the higher ground encircling the 308th. The soon to be infamous and named, The Lost Battalion from their higher command. Five days later, 194 survivors walked out of the ravine and into legend.

My grandfather Pvt. Frank Gustaf Severin Erickson was a surviving member of the Lost Battalion, having served with the 308th Infantry of the 77th Division and a runner-rifleman with Comapny H under the command of Lieutenant William Cullens.