Retreat, Hell

At dawn, exhausted remnants of the French 43 Division continued to pass through the US Marine line set up west of Belleau Wood. The 5th Marine Regiment of the 2nd Division, led by Colonel Wendell Neville, waited. Units of …

1918-06-04

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At dawn, exhausted remnants of the French 43 Division continued to pass through the US Marine line set up west of Belleau Wood. The 5th Marine Regiment of the 2nd Division, led by Colonel Wendell Neville, waited. Units of the German 237 lnfanterie-Division pushed down and beyond the Wood. When word reached Captain Lloyd Williams that a stumbling French major had ordered William's 51st Marine Company to retreat, he exploded, “Retreal, hell. We just got here.” The soldiers and Marines of 2nd Division had waited a year for this and would not retreat. The Germans confidently pressed on with probes, machine guns and artillery barrages. The Marines at Les Mares Farm were ready and started to close lines. Soon their French Corps Commander Joseph Degoutte hit upon the importance of the Wood, and two days later the Americans agreed to assault it.

Belleau Wood, France

The Battle of Belleau Wood (1–26 June 1918) occurred during the German spring offensive in World War I, near the Marne River in France. The battle was fought between the U.S. 2nd (under the command of Major General Omar Bundy) and 3rd Divisions along with French and British forces against an assortment of German units including elements from the 237th, 10th, 197th, 87th, and 28th Divisions. The battle has become a key component of the lore of the United States Marine Corps.

Wikipedia: Battle of Belleau Wood

German

French/American