Film The Lost Battalion

Question

What does Major Whittlesey require all the men to do with their uniforms?

Answer 1

Major Charles Whittlesey famously ordered all the men to remove their identifying insignia from their uniforms to prevent the enemy from easily recognizing them as American soldiers when they were surrounded and cut off from their lines. 

By removing insignia like shoulder boards and unit patches, the soldiers were less identifiable to the German forces, potentially allowing them to move more freely and avoid capture or being targeted specifically. This decision is often seen as a desperate measure taken in a dire situation, reflecting the extreme conditions faced by the "Lost Battalion" during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.