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The Battle of Belleau Wood was a seminal point in modern Marine Corps history.   Marines exploits against the Germans are a large part of the foundation of the lore, history, tradition and leadership of the Marine Corps. 

           
          Belleau Wood Marines

Located near the Marne River in France, the Battle of Belleau Wood took place during the 1918 German Spring Offensive during WWI.

Ordered to "hold where they stand" by Army General James Harbord, Marines dug shallow prone positions with bayonets.  German infantry attacked with fixed bayonets on 3 June through the wheat fields and were mowed down in waves by the Marines.  Survivors retreated into Belleau Wood.  The Germans dug a defensive line from Hill 204 (east of Vaux) north through Belleau Wood to Torcy.

"Retreat Hell, we just got here."

Urged to withdrawal by retreating French forces, Captain Lloyd Williams, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines uttered the words that are now etched in every Marines vocabulary "Retreat Hell, we just got here."  Over the next two days Marines repelled the continuous German assaults.

At dawn on the morning of 6 June, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, commanded by Major Julius Turrill attacked Hill 142 with two companies to protect the French Flank.  Marines advanced with fixed bayonets in the open accross a wheat field against German infantry supported by machine guns and artillery.  The 67th Company Commander was killed almost immediately while the 49th Company, Commanded by Captain Hamilton, fought into the dug in German positions, over running them.  Hamilton lost all of his junior officers.  Only one officer remained from the 67th Company.  Hamilton reorganized both companies and established a defense against German counter-attack.  By afternoon Hill 142 was secure at the cost of nine officers and most of the 325 man battalion.  

Belleau Wood Marine Attack

At 1700 on 6 June 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines and 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines advanced through a waist high wheat field against overwhelming machine gun fire.  Gunnery Sergeant Dan Daly, already a legend in the Corps for his two Medals of Honor, urged Marines forward with his famous quote: "Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?"  The first wave of Marines were mowed down, but Marines from 3/6 made it into the south end of Belleau Wood and fought the Germans with bayonets and in hand-to-hand combat.  U.S. Marines had made it to their objective at the highest cost in casualties sustained in Marine Corps history to that day.  31 Officer and 1,056 Marines.  

Heavy fighting continued in Belleau Wood by Marines for most of June. A total of six attacks were required before Belleau Wood was secure. Marines fought off parts of five German Division, often with bayonets and hand-to-hand combat.

On 26 June 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines Reinforced by 4th Machine Gun Battalion and a Company from 6th Machine Gun Battalion made the final attack to clear Belleau Wood.  The report stated "Woods now U.S. Marine Corps entirely."

Legacy, Legend and Leadership

-Belleau Wood was one of one of the bloodiest battles U.S. forces would fight during WWI. U.S. forces suffered 9,777 casualties, included 1,811 killed. 

-The impact of the Marines' success and sacrifice was so great that it firmly established the Marine Corps as the "Worlds Finest Fighting Force".   The tide in World War I had been turned by U.S. Marines.

-The French renamed Belleau Wood "Bois de la Brigade de Marine" ("Wood of the Marine Brigade") in honor of the Marines' tenacity.

-The French government awarded the 4th Marine Brigade the Croix De Querre. Only Marines of the 5th and 6th Marine Regiments are authorized to wear the Frence fourragère while serving with the regiments.  This uniform change continues to this day.

- The nickname "Devil Dogs" came from Belleau Wood. The Germans called the Marines "Teufel Hunden" for their ferocity.

-The Commander of the AEF, General Pershing was quoted "The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle!"

-An American battle monument was built in 1923 at Belleau Wood. There are 2,289 graves, 250 for unknown service members, and the names of 1,060 missing men adorn the wall of a memorial chapel.

A hallmark of the Marine Corps is dedication to proficiency in drill.  USMC formal ceremonies, such as the Marine Corps Birthday Ball, a change of command, or a retirement, will almost always incorporate some form of close order drill.

Discipline is instilled by close order drill and USMC leadership requires discipline. One of the foundations of USMC leadership is discipline.  

"In battle, the discipline they learned through drilling will keep their platoon working together as one team and focused on the mission"


Close Order Drill USMC

The Marine Corps uses close order drill to teach discipline by instilling habits of precision and automatic response to orders, increase the confidence of junior officers and noncommissioned officers through the exercise of command and give Marines an opportunity to handle individual weapons.

The five purposes of USMC close order drill are: 

-Instill discipline through precision and instant obedience to orders.

-Increase a Marine leader’s confidence through the exercise of command by giving proper commands and drilling troops.

-Provide simple formation from which various combat formations could readily be assumed.

-Move units from one place to another in a standard and orderly manner, while maintaining the best possible appearance.     

-Provide the Marines an opportunity to handle individual weapons. 

Resources for Marines

Marine Corps Drill and Ceremonies Manual

WAR is Sebastian Junger's brilliant and empathetic eye toward the reality of combat--the fear, the honor, and the trust among men in an extreme situation whose survival depends on their absolute commitment to one another. His on-the-ground account follows a single platoon through a 15-month tour of duty in the most dangerous outpost in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley. Through the experiences of these young men at war, he shows what it means to fight, to serve, and to face down mortal danger on a daily basis.

                           

Sebastian Junger is the internationally acclaimed author of The Perfect Storm, which spent over three years on the New York Times bestsellers list and was the basis for a major motion picture starring George Clooney. He is also the author of the New York Times bestsellers Fire and A Death in Belmont. He is a contributing editor to Vanity Fair, and has been awarded a National Magazine Award and an SAIS Novartis Prize for journalism. He lives in New York City.

Junger's time in the Korengal is also the subject of the documentary feature film Restrepo, which Junger directed with award-winning photographer Tim Hetherington. In 2009 Junger made his first film, the documentary feature Restrepo, as director with photographer Tim Hetherington. The two worked together in Afghanistan on assignment for Vanity Fair. Junger and Hetherington spent a year with one platoon in the Korangal Valley, which is billed as the deadliest valley in Afghanistan.

They recorded video to document their experience, and this footage went on to form the basis for Restrepo. The title refers to the outpost where Junger was embedded, which was named after a combat medic, Pfc. Juan Restrepo, killed in action. As Junger explained, "It’s a completely apolitical film. We wanted to give viewers the experience of being in combat with soldiers, and so our cameras never leave their side. There are no interviews with generals; there is no moral or political analysis. It is a purely experiential film."

Resources

WAR by Sebastian Junger

Restrepo the Movie

Pappy Boyington was a Marine Corps Aviator who flew initially flew with the "Flying Tigers" in the Republic of China Air Force and later commanded the Famous Black Sheep Squadron in the pacific during World War II.  He was an "Ace" who was awarded both the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross.  Boyington was shot down and became a POW later in the war.  He retired from the Marine Corps at the rank of Colonel.


Gregory "Pappy" Boyington

Born in Idaho on December 4th, 1912, Boyington took his first flight when he was six years old.  He attended the University of Washington where he was a member of the ROTC as well as the wresting and swim teams.  He graduated in 1934 with a degree in aeronautical engineering.  After graduation he went to work for Boeing.

During August of 1941, prior to the United States entrance into World War II, Boyington resigned his commission and accepted a position with the Flying Tigers of China.  Boyington became a flight leader and was officially credited with destroying 3.5 Japanese aircraft.  He returned to the United States in the spring of 1942 and was re-instated in the Marine Corps as a Major due to the great need for experienced pilots.

Boyington was first assigned to Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 11, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and became the XO of VMF-121 which operated from Guadalcanal.  Later he became the Commanding Officer of Marine Fighter Squadron 214, the "Black Sheep Squadron"

Black Sheep Squadron

The men of VMF-214 originally called themselves "Boyington's Bastards" after their new commander and the fact that all the pilots had been orphans when they got together with few planes and mechanics.  The name was later changed to "Black Sheep". 

Boyington and his Marines flew the F4U Corsair in intense combat in the Russell Islands, New Georgia, Bouganville, New Britain and New Ireland AORs.  During the Squadron's first combat action Pappy Boyington shot down 14 enemy fighters in 32 days. By December his total was 25 downed enemy aircraft.  His final number of 26 downed enemy aircraft tied an American ACE record.

<sup>"Pappy" Boyington" Callsign

Initially called Gramps by his men because of his age (31), Boyington's callsign became "Pappy" when a song composed by one of his pilots was picked up by war corespondents.</sup> 

POW

Boyington and four planes from the Black Sheep Squadron were operating over Rabaul on 3 January, 1944 when he shot down his 26th enemy aircraft.  He was shot down later the same day.  The action saw 70 Japanese fighters against approximately 30 American fighters.  Following a search, Boyington was declared Missing in Action (MIA).  Unknown to the Marine Corps he had been picked up by a Japanese submarine.  He spent 20 months in Japanese Prisoner of War camps.  He was promoted to LtCol during his time as a POW and returned to the United States on 12 September, 1945.

Navy Cross and Medal of Honor

Following his return to the United States Boyington was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Truman.  The Medal had been previously awarded by President Roosevelt in March of 1944, but was held until such a time as he could receive it.  The Commandant of the Marine Corps awarded him the Navy Cross for his actions during the Rabul raid on October 4th, 1945.

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For extraordinary heroism above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of Marine Fighting Squadron TWO FOURTEEN in action against enemy Japanese forces in Central Solomons Area from 12 September 1943 to 3 January 1944. Consistently outnumbered throughout successive hazardous flights over heavily defended hostile territory, Major Boyington struck at the enemy with daring and courageous persistence, leading his squadron into combat with devastating results to Japanese shipping, shore installations and aerial forces. Resolute in his efforts to inflict crippling damage on the enemy, Major Boyington led a formation of twenty-four fighters over Kahili on 17 October and, persistently circling the airdrome where sixty hostile aircraft were grounded, boldly challenged the Japanese to send up planes. Under his brilliant command, our fighters shot down twenty enemy craft in the ensuing action without the loss of a single ship. A superb airman and determined fighter against overwhelming odds, Major Boyington personally destroyed 26 of the many Japanese planes shot down by his squadron and by his forceful leadership developed the combat readiness in his command which was a distinctive factor in the Allied aerial achievements in this vitally strategic area.

Gregory"Pappy" Boyington  retired from the Marine Corps on August 1, 1947 at the rank of Colonel. Robert Conrad portrayed him in the 1970s TV show Baa Baa Black Sheep.

Colonel Boyington died of cancer at the age of 75 on 11 January, 1988 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Resources for Marines

PFC Jacklyn (Jack) Lucas fraudulently enlisted in the Marine Corps during WWII at the age of 14 in August of 1942.  Two and a half years later he would become the youngest Marine in history to be awarded the Medal of Honor for heroic actions on Iwo Jima.  PFC Lucas was just 17 years old when he landed on Iwo-Jima.   His life is chronicled in his wartime memoir Indestructible.

Private Lucas was assigned to Marine Barracks, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, FL.  In June of 1943 he was transferred to the 21st Replacement Battalion at New River, NC and one month later transferred to the 25th Replacement Battalion.  He was qualified as a heavy machine gunner.

On 4 Novemember, 1943 Private Lucas left for Hawaii joining the 6th Base Depot of V Amphibious Corps in Hawaii.  He was promoted to Private First Class on 29 January, 1944. 

Telling his buddies that he was going to join a combat outfit, PFC Lucas walked out of camp on 10 January 1945.  When he failed to return that night he was run as Unauthorized Absence or "UA".  One month later he was declared a deserter and reduced to the rank of Private.

Jack Lucas had stowed away on the USS Deuel which was transporting 5th Marine Division units to Combat.  He turned himself in onboard ship to the Commander of Troops on 8 February, 1945 and was allowed to remain with the division in Headquarters Company.  He turned 17 at sea just six days before his actions on Iwo Jima.

Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the First Battalion, Twenty-sixth Marines, Fifth Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands 20 February 1945. While creeping through a treacherous, twisting ravine which ran in close proximity to a fluid and uncertain front line on D-plus+1 Day, Private First Class Lucas and three other men were suddenly ambushed by a hostile patrol which savagely attacked with rifle fire and grenades. Quick to act when the lives of the small group were endangered by two grenades which landed directly in front of them, Private First Class Lucas unhesitatingly hurled himself over his comrades upon one grenade and pulled the other one under him, absorbing the whole blasting force of the explosions in his own body in order to shield his companions from the concussion and murderous flying fragments. By his inspiring action and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice, he not only protected his comrades from certain injury or possible death, but also enabled them to rout the Japanese patrol and continue the advance. His exceptionally courageous initiative and loyalty reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class Lucas and the United States Naval Service. 

/S/ HARRY S. TRUMAN

His fellow Marines thought he was killed in the blast, so they left him and continued the attack. PFC Lucas was severely wounded in the right arm and wrist, right leg and thigh, and chest.  He was medevaced to the hospital ship Samaritan and eventually to San Francisco on March 28th, 1945.  He would undergo a total of 21 surgeries.  Approximately 200 pieces of shrapnel remained in his body for the rest of his life. 

The deserter status was removed from his service record in August of 1945 and Private Lucas was reappointed to the rank of Private First Class while he was a patient at the U.S. Naval Hospital Charleston, South Carolina.   He was medically discharged from the Marine Corps on 18 September of 1945. 

On 5 October, 1945 PFC Jack Lucas was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Harry Truman.

More than 30 of the 90 living Medal of Honor recipients from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps have joined in a public service campaign designed to help stem the rising tide of suicides among military service members today.  These men are encouraging our Combat Veterans and Military personnel to seek help to stay strong for their families and themselves.

These recipients, who have survived some of the most harrowing experiences in combat, including years as POWs, physical wounds and emotional trauma, felt compelled to speak out to America's military, share their experiences and encourage them to seek help for behavioral health issues that are often a result of deployment and combat.  Their message is simple:  Don't let the enemy defeat you at home!

In their own words, Medal of Honor recipients encourage America’s military by reminding them that seeking care is indeed a courageous act. One that shows they recognize the need to stay strong in mind and body.