Remember Belleau Wood

We Americans don’t know much about the first World War.

It is too far distant in historical time for those of us living today.  But on this day, June 6, one hundred and two years ago, U.S. Marines from the 5^th and 6^th regiments engaged Germany army troops at a former hunting preserve known as “Belleau Wood.”

American casualties, 1,811 dead and 7,966 wounded, are remembered by the U.S. Marine Corps for the bravery and skills of Marine riflemen who repulsed German attacks and by their opponents who likened then to “hell hounds.”

A grateful French nation honored them by renaming Belleau Wood calling it “Bois de la Brigade de Marine.”  Our dead are honored at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery.