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9 unusual facts about Battle of Belleau Wood


Albertus W. Catlin

On the June 6, 1918, with his regiment attacking Bois de Belleau, he was wounded in the chest by a sniper and evacuated to a hospital the next day.

Belleau Wood

The Battle of Belleau Wood, near Château-Thierry, France, the scene of heavy fighting by U.S. Marines in World War I

Ben Hebard Fuller

Major General Fuller died on June 8, 1937, aged 67, at the U.S. Naval Hospital, Washington, D.C., and was buried on June 11, 1937 in the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery at Annapolis, Maryland, beside the grave of his son, Captain Edward C. Fuller of the 6th Marines, who was killed in action in the Battle of Belleau Wood during World War I.

Charles A. Doyen

But the 4th Brigade went on to win a historic victory in Belleau Wood.

Darel McKinney

He would be awarded the Navy Cross and Distinguished Service Cross for his actions during the Battle of Belleau Wood.

Fred W. Stockham

Between that time and his death, he served in the Toulon sector, in the Aisne operation, and at Belleau Wood.

John Groff

Groff was wounded in action (minor gunshot) and was cited for gallantry on multiple occasions during the Battle of Belleau Wood in June 1918.

Lewie G. Merritt

He and several other Citadel graduates became a part of the famous 'Devil Dogs' of Marine Corps legend at the Battle of Belleau Wood in 1918.

Maurice E. Shearer

In 1918, Major Shearer of the 5th Marine Regiment, led Marines in the World War I Battle of Belleau Wood in France, where he was awarded the Navy Cross, Army Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, and French Legion of Honor.


88th Aero Squadron

On 7 July it moved to Francheville Aerodrome on the Chateau-Thierry front, near Belleau Woods where the United States Marine Corps was on the front.

Abraham Rattner

He was sent to France, where he was "promoted to sergeant, put in charge of camouflage research, and served at the front in the Second Battle of the Marne, Château-Thierry, Belleau Wood, and on the Hindenberg Line. He received a severe back wound which troubled him for the rest of his life" (Culkin 1980).

Battle of Cantigny

The victory at Cantigny was followed by attacks at Château-Thierry and Belleau Wood in the first half of June.

Clifton B. Cates

For his heroism in the Aisne defensive at Boursches and Belleau Wood, he was awarded the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Cross and Oak Leaf Cluster, in addition to the Purple Heart.

Macon C. Overton

Marine Captain Overton had previously been awarded the Croix de Guerre with silver star and palm for action in the Bois de Belleau (13 June 1918) and the Distinguished Service Cross for action near Mont Blanc (2–10 October 1918).

Randolph Zane

Major Zane participated in the fighting in the vicinity of Belleau Wood, when the untried Marines came up against the 461st Imperial German Infantry, a unit that Colonel Robert D. Heinl called "the largest single body of combat-seasoned regular troops which Marines had confronted since Bladensburg" (1814).

The Corps Series

In Counterattack, when General Pickering's decorations are mentioned, his highest is the Silver Star, yet in later books it mentions that he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross or the Navy Cross in Belleau Wood in World War I.


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