Lost Battalion tunic
Here is a tunic and helmet worn by Arthur Looker. A member of Company B, 308th Infantry regiment, 77th Division. This is the actual tunic and helmet worn during that battle. I have the complete uniform, gas mask, helmet, etc., and a later period private purchase WWI uniform worn by Mr. Looker.
The collar insignia indicate the 308th regiment, company B.
As you may note the shoulder patch which is a representation of the statue of liberty ,a symbol of New York City where the division was formed up, the statue normaly holds a torch as represented on another theater made WWI patch I have for comparison, the torch is replaced by a star on the patches of the survivors of the battle. There are a few variations of the rare star patch.The patch on the tunic is a silk patch made in France the most rare version of the lost batalion patch variations. There is one gold bullion chevron on each sleeve. The left sleeve indicating 6 months overseas service and the right sleeve indicating a wound. There is also a red chevron on the right sleeve indicating honorable discharge. The tunic is a model 1912.
The 77th division was part of the overall battle of the Argonne, the only complete American battle of WWI.
Units of the 77th, now known as the lost battalion, had advanced beyond the position that the High command had designated. Unfortunatly the French on the left flank and 2 American units on the right flank were stalled and not able to advance. As a result elements of 308th infantry regiment,companies:
A
B
C
E
G
H
Regiment 307
Company K
306th Machine Gun Battalion companies
C
D
For a total of 554 men and officers were surronded and cut off by German Army elements.
A total of 194 men and officers were rescued when the battle was over.
This is 1 of 194 uniforms that survived the battle.
SteveR
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by totenkopfDean
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