“Woods now U.S. Marine Corps entirely.” Major M. Shearer’s report to HQ, June 26, 1918, Belleau Wood, France.
Today, June 26th, marks the 104th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Belleau Wood, one of the most ferocious battles in U.S. Marine Corps history.
The battle lasted from June 1st to June 26th, 1918, near the Marne River in France. It was part of the German Spring Offensive of 1918, which hoped to defeat the Allied forces on the Western Front before the full strength of the U.S. military reached France. In late May 1918, the third German offensive of the year penetrated the Western Front to within 60 miles of Paris.
On June 1, German troops attacked French forces and reached their objectives, moving into the area and occupying Belleau Wood. U.S. 2nd Division, which included 5th and 6th Marine Regiments, set up defensive positions south of the woods, ordering the Marines to “hold where they stand.” On June 2nd, Germans troops moved through the woods and attacked the Marines, who mowed down a wave after wave of Germans with deadly accurate rifle fire, halting their line. Other elements of Allied forces were not as successful, and many French commanders urged the Marines to retreat before the Germans re-organize. This led to one of the most famous Marine retorts, uttered by Captain Lloyd Williams of 2nd Battalion 5th Marines; “Retreat? Hell, we just got here.”
Over the next two days, Marines repelled continuous German attacks, which allowed the allied forces to prepare and launch a counterattack on June 6th. Marines from 1st Battalion 5th Marines were ordered to take the Hill 142, west of the woods. As they crossed the now-famous wheat fields with their bayonets fixed, they were met by German troops who set well-defended positions supported by deadly machine gun and artillery fire. On that morning, many Marines were cut down in those wheat fields; however, 1/5 was able to overcome the odds and capture Hill 142, uprooting the entrenched Germans.
With the left flank secured, 3rd Battalion 5th Marines and 3rd Battalion 6th Marines were ordered to advance into Belleau Woods from the west and clear it out. These Marines, again, had to push across the open wheat field, facing a well-entrenched enemy. During this attack, winner of 2 Medals of Honor, Gunnery Sergeant Dan Daly, motivated his men with the now most iconic Marine Battle quote, “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?”
Soon enough, Marines of 3/6 and 3/5 were engaged in some of the heaviest fighting in Marine Corps history. The German infantry had well-established trench lines that were covered by interlocking machine gun fields of fire, barbed wire, and individual fighting positions. As the Marines pushed through these defenses, the battle turned into the most brutal hand-to-hand fight for life and death. When the dust settled, the Marines gained a stronghold in the woods.
Over the next three weeks, Marines attacked the woods six times before they were able to expel the Germans fully. On June 26, 1918, 3rd Battalion 5th Marines, under the command of Major M. Shearer, made the final attack on Belleau Wood, clearing it of any remaining German forces. Major Shearer sent a report to HQ stating, “Woods now U.S. Marine Corps entirely.” One of the most ferocious battles in U.S. Marine Corps history was over.
U.S. forces suffered 1811 Killed-In-Action and 7966 wounded in the Battle of Belleau Wood. After the battle, the French renamed the wood "Bois de la Brigade de Marine" ("Wood of the Marine Brigade") in honor of the Marines' tenacity. The French government awarded the Marines with the “Croix de Guerre” and Marines of 5th and 6th Marine Regiments are still allowed to wear the “French Fourragere” on their uniforms as a symbol of their regiments’ valor during the battle.
This battle also cemented the U.S. Marine Corps’ place in modern warfare as a highly effective fighting force. Official German reports classified the Marines as “vigorous, self-confident, and remarkable marksman…” They compelled General Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Force, to proclaim that “the deadliest weapon in the world is a United States Marine and his rifle.” The legend has it that after the battle, the Germans began to call the Marines “Teufelshunde” or “Devil Dogs.” Over the past 100 years, the Marines have lived up to the high standard set by the Belleau Woods Marines on the battlefields all over the world, and they keep proving that U.S. Marine Corps is the deadliest fighting force in modern history.
