In Belleau Wood cemetery, France, marble cross marks grave of last American killed in action - Hugh McKenna, killed Armistice day. Photograph shows grave at the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, Belleau, France, of Private Hugh A. McKenna of the 355th Infantry, 89th Division, killed November 11, 1918.
The Battle of Belleau Wood (1–26 June 1918) occurred during the German Spring Offensive in World War I, near the Marne River in France. The battle was fought between the 2nd (under the command of Major General Omar Bundy) and 3rd Divisions along with French and British forces against an assortment of German units including elements from the 237th, 10th, 197th, 87th, and 28th Divisions. The battle has become a key component of the lore of the United States Marine March 1918, with nearly 50 additional divisions freed by the Russian surrender on the Eastern Front, the German Army launched a series of attacks on the Western Front, hoping to defeat the Allies before forces could be fully deployed. A third offensive launched in May against the French between Soissons and Reims, known as the Third Battle of the Aisne, saw the Germans reach the north bank of the Marne River at Château-Thierry, 95 kilometres (59 mi) from Paris, on 27 May. On 31 May, the 3rd Division held the German advance at Château-Thierry and the German advance turned right towards Vaux and Belleau Wood.[3]:106–107 On 1 June, Château-Thierry and Vaux fell, and German troops moved into Belleau Wood. The 2nd Infantry Division—which included a brigade of Marines—was brought up along the Paris-Metz highway. The 9th Infantry Regiment was placed between the highway and the Marne, while the 6th Marine Regiment was deployed to their left. The 5th Marine and 23rd Infantry regiments were placed in reserve. Battle On the evening of 1 June, German forces punched a hole in the French lines to the left of the Marines' position. In response, the reserve—consisting of the 23rd Infantry Regiment under Colonel Paul B. Malone, the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines under Major Julius S. Turrill, and an element of the 6th Machine Gun Battalion—conducted a forced march over 10 km ( mi) to plug the gap in the line, which they achieved by dawn.
Size: 4012px × 5088px
Location: Belleau Wood, France
Photo credit: © American Photo Archive / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: 1918, 2nd, allied, allies, army, attack, battle, battlefield, belleau, cemetery, chateay, death, france, french, german, germany, hero, heroes, infantry, marines, marne, offensive, soldier, soldiers, spring, thierry, trump, vaux, war, wood, woods, world, wwi
