Stories you might have missed from across Wisconsin. Florence: Graphic novel tells the story of Medal of Honor recipient. The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration and is awarded to American service members who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. Just over 3,000 service members have received the Medal and one of them is from the small Wisconsin town of Florence. Now the story of Charles Whittlesey is being shared in a graphic novel. Whittlesey was awarded the Medal of Honor to honor his leadership and bravery during WWI. The novel “Medal of Honor: Charles Whittlesey” is part of a 24 book series produced by by the Association of the United States Army, a nonprofit that supports soldiers and their families. Whittlesey was the commander of the famed Lost Battalion. The battalion attacked German forces as part of a larger campaign in the Meuse-Argonne region of France. According to the graphic novel and reporting in the Journal Sentinel, the plan was for Whittlesey and his 500 soldiers to link with units on the battalion’s right and left flanks, then move ahead. The forces did not meet as planned, and Whittlesey was ordered to advance without any support on his flanks. The battalion moved forward and created what would be called “the pocket.” “Of the 554 men who followed Whittlesey into the pocket, only 194 were able to walk away.” The book is free online. You can read or download it at www.ausa.org/whittlesey Full Story.