| Château Thierry sector, France, 6 June-9 July, 1918. — Belleau Wood |
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| June 2018 — 100th Anniversary |
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| May 30, 1918
After various experiences with French unities, the 2nd, Division is ordered by General Foch to the Belleau Wood sector, and takes up its position in front of Lucy-le-Bocage on the evening of June 1st, covering a front extending six miles, from east to west. Division Headquaters were in the vicinity of Montreuil-aux-Lions. After continuous fighting for 21 days, and a final bombardment by French and American artillery from the west, when 33,000 shells of every calibre were thrown into the Wood, the enemy was driven out by the 4th, Marine Brigade, comprising the 5th, and 6th, Infantry Regiments, and the 2nd, Engineers of the U. S. Army, on the 25th, of June. During these 21 days the 2nd, Division lost 1811 officers and men killed, and 7252 wounded. After the 9th, and 23rd, Infantry Regiments had driven the Germans out of the village of Vaux, the Division is sent back of the line for a period of repose, but almost immediately is ordered to take its position on the front line in the Soissons sector. |
Belleau Wood Memorial Association
June 1927 |
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2nd Division marker inside Belleau Wood
June 25, 2008 |
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2nd Engineer marker inside Belleau Wood
June
25, 2008 |
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The infantry and Marine brigades of the 2nd Division, advanced with speed past this house on the way to Belleau Wood, and then Americans and Germans stood, at last, face to face. |
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The Mairie (town hall), Montreuil-aux-Lions. Headquarters 2d Div., June 1, 1918. During morning of same day headquarters of Fourth Brigade of Marines was established in this town also—for half an hour in an automobile. The second photograph was taken in June 2008, 90 years after the first. |
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Belleau - Les visiteurs
Visitors |
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Belleau - Cimitière du Bois
The Cimetary in the wood |
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Germans in Belleau Woods |
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German Graves in Belleau Wood |
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S.E. Edge of Bois de Belleau with Bouresches in background.
Photo by 2nd Engineers |
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Belleau Woods, looking toward Belleau, Torcy, Hill 193 and the German lines.
Image source |
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CHATEAU THIERRY - BELLEAU - American cimetery in bois Belleau (1918) |
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German cemetery at Belleau Wood 2008 |
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The hunting lodge. |
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CHATEAU-THIERRY (Aisne) — Au bois Belleaux - Les Tombes américaines - (Photo 1918) |
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CHATEAU-THIERRY - BELLEAU - Entrance to wood near Belleau (1918) |
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CHATEAU-THIERRY - BELLEAU - American trenches in Bois Belleau (1918) |
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| Belleau Village |
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Bataille de Chateau-Thierry — The First American victory
Belleau - Rue principale Principal street |
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The town of Belleau, with Belleau Woods on the left, with Hill No. 193 the German position of resistance on the right.
Image source |
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Belleau — Cimetière du Village |
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CHATEAU-THIERRY - BELLEAU - The School and Belleau Woods |
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Chateau Thierry - Belleau - Church in ruin - 1918 |
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Chateau Thierry - Belleau - Ruines de la Rue Principale
Chateau Thierry - Belleau - Ruins in the main street (1918) |
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Chateau Thierry - Belleau - Ruins of the cimetary - 1918 |
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| Bouresches |
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The destroyed town of Boureshes, France, on the edge of Belleau Woods.
Image source |
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CHATEAU-THIERRY - BELLEAU - American cemetery, road to Bouresches (1918) |
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The deadly effect of persistent artillery fire may be seen from the photograph taken after the bombardment of the village of
Bouresches. |
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| Maps |
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2d Division Operations, June 4—July 10, 1918 |
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Map showing locations of the 2nd Engineers at Belleau Wood. |
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Château Thierry Relief Map |
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| Vaux |
![CHATEAU-THIERRY - BELLEAU - Ammunition left by the German on the road to Veau [sic] (1918)](../../images/france/belleau.thierry/thumbs/german.machine.guns.jpg) |
CHATEAU-THIERRY - BELLEAU - Ammunition left by the German on the road to Veau [sic] (1918) |
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Chateau Thierry: Village of Vaux |
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| Misc. |
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Aisne-Marne Memorial on Hill 204 |
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CHATEAU THIERRY (Aisne) Local Railway between Chateau Thierry and Belleau (1918)
Here is an interesting photograph taken in 1918 in the vicinity
of Belleau Wood and Chateau Thierry. Note the wire in the foreground
and the American cemetery behind the bus. The fighting here had probably not
been over for very long when this photograph was taken. Note the date error! |
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Remaining Veterans of Belleau Wood.
B. Co. 2nd Engrs.
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Marines weren't alone at Belleau Wood! These are the survivors of Company B, just one of six companies
of Engineers that assisted at Belleau Wood. |
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CHATEAU-THIERRY - BELLEAU - The new bridge (1918) |
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CHATEAU-THIERRY (Aisne) — Apres le bombardement - Carrefour historique (photo 1918) |
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Bataille de Chateau-Thierry - Interieur de la Ferme - The First American Victory BELLEAU |
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Capt. Robert F. Hyatt (with megaphone) Battery F, 15th F. A., 2d Div., receiving reports from observation post via field telephone. Coupru, Chateau Thierry Sector. June 5. 1918. |
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German machine Guns were placed, near Torcy |
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| Aisne Marne Cemetery |
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American cemetery - Belleau Woods, France. Where over 2000 regulars and Marines who gave their lives in the victory at Chateau Thierry and Belleau Wood, sleep the last sleep.
Image source |
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AISNE-MARNE. - Entrance to American Cemetery viewed from Belleau Wood |
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Aisne Marne Cemetery and Chapel |
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Grave of Brig. Gen. James F. McIndoe at Aisne Marne Cemtery |
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Grave of Lloyd E. Hutcheson from Meridian Idaho. |
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The names of 1,060 Americans whose remains were never recovered or not identified are inscribed on the walls of the chapel. A bronze rosette marks the names of those who were subsequently found. 251 headstones mark the graves of "unknowns". |
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![CHATEAU-THIERRY - BELLEAU - Ammunition left by the German on the road to Veau [sic] (1918)](../../images/france/belleau.thierry/german.machine.guns.jpg)
