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More than 70 Marines walked in the footsteps of the
original Devil Dogs while touring the battlefields of the
Battle of Belleau Wood, France, May 26, 2016, during a
professional military education trip.
Marine Corps
University sponsored the five-day PME trip for Marines with
Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine
Corps, Henderson Hall, and Marine Barracks Washington, D.C.
After a full day of travel, a day in Paris and a day at
Normandy, the Marines spent the fourth day at Belleau.
Led by Mr. Ray Shearer, a Marine veteran and director
and chairman of the American Oversees Memorial Day
Association, the day began at Les Mares Farm, in the
countryside near the town of Belleau. Marines learned the
Marines of the 5th and 6th Marine Regiments arrived without
adequate food, water, equipment or maps of the terrain and
area.
Marines from Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine
Corps, Henderson Hall and Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., stand at
attention during the evening colors ceremony at the Aisne-Marne
American Cemetery, Belleau, France, May 26, 2016. Marines lowered
the two American flags at the cemetery as the Navy Hymn, Eternal
Father Strong to Save played from the cemetery chapel. (Image
created by USA Patriotism! from U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt.
Melissa Karnath) |
Marines continued the tour by bus then hiked
from the roadside through a trail and local farm fields to
Hill 142. With the trail leading into woods, Marines
explored trenches that were once fighting positions for
Marines during World War I.
“There's no better way
to educate than by walking on the battlefield,” said
Shearer.
By bus, the next stop was a wheat field to
continue learning about the battle. Throughout the day,
three Marines each spoke about the heroic acts of Marines
during the Battle of Belleau Wood.
From the wheat
field, Marines walked down the road to a small town of Lucy
le Bocage. From a hill in the town, a house in the distance
of the countryside was pointed out as the headquarters for
the 6th Marine Regiment.
“Being able to walk and see
some of these sights that still exist after almost 100
years,” said Cpl. Joshua Bettis, a distribution management
office outbound counselor. “To me it's unbelievable;
there's still trenches dug out by the Marines who came
before us.”
After a short bus ride, the Marines
continued the tour on foot, walking to the town of
Bouresches, continuing along the edge of farm fields into
the woods of Belleau. While in the woods, Marines paused to
look at trenches, holes and impressions in the ground from
fighting holes and enemy shelling.
“For me I had
goose bumps all day getting to see these places,” said Sgt.
Curtis Dunham, operations noncommissioned officer in-charge,
Administrative Resources Information.
After hiking
for more than an hour through the woods passing by a bunker
and fortification, Marines stood in a clearing of Belleau
Wood where the final attack of the battle took place.
Marines took photos of the Marine Monument with a life-size
sculpture of a World War I Marine surrounded by cannons. A
tree with a huge knot also stands in the clearing. Under the
knot is a shell which the tree has grown over. Marines also
collected dirt, bark and leaves.
Marines from Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Henderson Hall and Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., pause to reflect at the Marine Monument in the woods of Belleau, France May 26, 2016. The commanding general of the French 6th Army officially renamed Belleau Wood as “Wood of the Marine Brigade”, June 30, 1918. (Image created by USA Patriotism! from U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Melissa Karnath) |
From the Belleau
Wood Marine Monument, Shearer led the Marines down a trail
to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial where more
than 2,200 American service members are interred. Each
service member is honored with a white marble marker of a
cross or Star of David.
Marines had time to tour the
chapel over looking each service member's final resting
place. Evening colors took place with Marines lowering two
American flags as the Navy Hymn, Eternal Father Strong to
Save, was sounded from the chapel, followed by God Bless
America.
“The colors ceremony is something I will
never forget. To see the colors come down at Belleau Wood,
I'll never forget that,” said Dunham. “Being at the Belleau
Wood Memorial and Cemetery gave me a tingle up my spine.”
Marines from Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Henderson Hall and Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., take photos of the grave marker for Lt. j.g. Weedon Osborne the only Medal of Honor recipient interred at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in Belleau, France, May 26, 2016. Osborne was a dentist who served as corpsman for the 6th Marine Regiment and was killed in action trying to carry an injured Marine to safety June 6, 1918. (Image created by USA Patriotism! from U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Melissa Karnath) |
Following the path lined with neatly trimmed trees,
bushes of flowers and immaculately cut, lush, green grass,
Marines traveled to take a quick drink from the Devil Dog
Fountain a short distance down the road.
“Our
memories dim with time and the best way to honor the service
members who fought here for freedom, our liberties and
France is to educate our young troops today,” said Shearer.
By U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Melissa Karnath
Marine Corps News
Copyright 2016
The U.S. Marines
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