Shot into the air over the Argonne Forest by the Germans sometime between the 2nd and the 8th of October 1918. Soaring through the Fall days and exploding near the left flank of 'The Pocket, where the men of the 77th Division held their ground.

My grandfather, Pvt. Frank Severin Erickson was a member of this iconic group, the 'Lost Battalion,' serving under the command of Major Charles W. Whittlesey. Frank survived to tell the stories. Some are posted at the links below.

These pieces of shrapnel were discovered amongst the undergrowth of the former area of the famous siege. A photograph was taken for your viewing pleasure.

General Order Number 30: April 15, 1919
I desire to publish to the command an official recognition of the valor and extraordinary heroism in action of the officers and enlisted men of the following organizations:

Companies A, B, C, E, G, H of the 308th Infantry
Company K of the 307th Infantry
Companies C, D of the 306th Machine Gun Battalion

These organizations, or detachments therefrom, comprised the approximate force of 550 men under command of Major Charles W. Whittlesey, which was cut off from the remainder of the Seventy-Seventh Division and surrounded by a superior number of the enemy near Charlevaux, in the Forest d'Argonne, from October 2nd, 1918, to October 8th, 1918.

Without food for more than one hundred hours, harassed continuously by machine gun, rifle, trench mortar and grenade fire, Major Whittlesey's command, with undaunted spirit and magnificent courage, successfully met and repulsed daily violent attacks by the enemy. They held the position which had been reached by supreme efforts, under orders received for an advance, until communication was re-established with friendly troops.

When relief finally came, 194 officers and men were able to walk out of the position. 334 men were either killed, went missing in action or were taken prisoner by the Germans. On the fourth day a written proposition to surrender received from the Germans was treated with the contempt which it deserved.

The officers and men of these organizations during these seven days of isolation continually gave unquestionable proof of extraordinary heroism and demonstrated the high standard and ideals of the United States Army.

Robert Alexander, Major General, US Army Commanding A.E.F.

Two photographs are below of the survivors of the early October of 1918 Lost Battalion. Frank is prominently shown with arrows placing him in this illustrious group of men.