MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- The image of Marines and the Marine Corps has been pieced together over the years through all the battles and wars that Marines have been involved in. This image is one of hard-working loyalists ready to serve their country at all costs. Through the bloodiest battles, Marines have driven through adversity to the very end to show the enemy the high level of pride they have. Examples of this heroic and patriotic behavior have been shown throughout many wars, but especially in one particular battle: The Battle of Belleau Wood (June 1-26, 1918).
During the World War I era, after victories at Cantigny and Chateau-Thierry, the 2nd and 3rd Divisions of the U.S. Army along with the 4th Brigade of United States Marines (attached to the 2nd Division), moved into Belleau Wood next to the Marne River, near Paris, France. The mission of the 2nd Division was to stop the German advance toward Paris. The Marines of 4th Brigade was sent forward. In order to take the woods, the division had to rally across an open wheat field, which was heavily reinforced by German machine gun and artillery fire.
As the battle went on and the Marines pressed forward, casualty numbers grew and so did the fighting spirits of the ones left to fight.
After the Marines were repeatedly urged to retreat by the French, one Marine, Capt. Lloyd Williams, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, spoke out and said, “Retreat, hell. We just got here.”
Even with a quote so small, the impact of his aggressive, confident words motivated the Marines to keep charging through the tall, thick wheat field. In times of panic, Marines showed perseverance and poise, keeping the image of the Marine Corps intact.
The Marines and the U.S. Army swept the wheat fields a total of six times to fully deplete the Germans. They fought off more than four divisions of Germans often using hand-to-hand combat or bayonets. The battle lasted a total of 26 days with more than 8,500 German casualties.
On June 26, a report was sent out from the field stating, “Woods now U.S. Marine Corps entirely,” ending the bloodiest and most vicious battle the U.S. Forces would fight in the war.
At 9,777, the battle marked the greatest casualty number in Marine Corps history and stayed that way for more than 25 years.
After the battle, the French renamed the woods, “Bois de la Brigade de Marine” (“Woods of the Marine Brigade”) in honor of the Marines’ valor against all odds. Belleau Wood is also where the Marines received their German nickname “Teufelshunde” or “Devil Dogs” for the intensity and persistence in attacking the German lines.
Gen. Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Force once stated that the Battle of Belleau Wood was the biggest battle for the U.S. since The Surrender at Appomattox.
In excerpts from writings of Lt. Col. Frederic Wise, commander of 2/5 at Belleau Wood, he stated “The only thing that drove those Marines through those woods on the face of such resistance as they met was their individual, elemental guts, plus the hardening of the training through which they had gone.