Monday, December 07, 2009

Belleau Wood monument on December 7

December 7 is an unofficial Veteran's Day--and we can never have too many of those. So I just had to snap a photograph the Belleau Wood US Marines monument in Des Plaines, Illinois this afternoon.

In June of 1918, German forces were closing in on Paris with the hope of winning the First World War before the bulk of American troops arrived to the Western front. Things were going poorly for the Allies, and the French asked US Marine Captain Lloyd Williams to retreat. His response?

Retreat, Hell! We just got here!

The Marines didn't. The Allies won the Battle of Belleau Wood and by July the Germans were the ones retreating.

Blackfive has more on this pivotal battle.

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