Chin and at least three other men were left behind because the Major noted they did not have enough field telephone wire to make it all the way to the objective. Chin was ordered to set up a "well concealed RADIO post". Huh? That's a telephone, not a radio!
Later, before Lipasti returns to the mill with the stragglers from the other American outfit, the Major is seen trying to reach Chin by telephone. What happened to not having enough wire??
lol, wow, I never noticed that til I read this.
I did catch, though, that during the engagement to take out the German machine gun nest just prior to arriving in the Charleveux Mill area, one German gets bayonetted thru the neck. Fine & all, except the American Springfield rifle that's used to do that has no bayonet fixed to it! Not even a mock-up of the bayonet handle, which would be visible during the scene, is attached to the rifle.
The other thing: when the US artillery is due to open up on the German line, in support of Whittlsey's battalion, the artillery officer asks if the firing coordinates have been confirmed. The messenger replies "yes, twice".
If HQ has no precise idea where the Battalion is, or a way to contact them, how'd they confirm coordinates of the German force opposing the Battalion?
Heck, after the messenger replies to the artillery officer's question, the artillery officer doesn't even look at the paper containing the coordinates! He simply turns & yells out "GUNNERS!!".
And with that the artillery just starts to open fire. No wonder the barrage ends up landing on the 308th! lol.
I was always left wondering, at the end of the flick, why Krotoshinky & not someone like Yodder (assuming Yodder isn't a fictional character) got the Distinguised Service Cross as noted in the credits?
I'm guessing, after only just noticing this after watching it last night, that it may have been b/c he was successful in slipping thru the German lines & going to get the help that shows up after the 308th & '07th guys beat off the stormtrooper attack.