The Devil Dogs at Belleau Wood

Facing massed German machine guns, the Marines made sweep after bloody sweep through the key position of Bellau wood, having taken it, ceded it, and then retaken it a total of six separate times in some of the fiercest, bloodiest, most intense combat of WW1. Repeatedly urged to turn back by the Fren [...]
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Facing massed German machine guns, the Marines made sweep after bloody sweep through the key position of Bellau wood, having taken it, ceded it, and then retaken it a total of six separate times in some of the fiercest, bloodiest, most intense combat of WW1. Repeatedly urged to turn back by the French, Captain Lloyd Williams of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine regiment, uttered his now famous retort, "Retreat, hell. We just got here". By the end of that terrible June in 1918, the Marines had broken the back of the German Spring offensive, and won the nickname Teufelshunde, or Devil Dogs, from their enemies.It also won such admiration from the French that the wood's name was changed to Bois de la Brigade de Marine, and the regiment was awarded the Croix De Guerre. The Marines took 6, 777 casualties, the highest rate in their history, and one that stood until Tarawa in WWII. This pivotal battle is recreated here by those who fought it. Drawing on numerous first-hand accounts of the month-long engagement, this book captures the spirit of the Leathernecks in desperate battle.It offers a harrowing look at a critical campaign, in which "men were being mowed down like wheat", yet also tells the story of camaraderie and courage that carried the day. Rich with the personal observations and insights that bring history to life, this is a journey into a past battle to be welcomed by all history and military buffs.