With the Help of God and a Few Marines by Albertus W. Catlin

Author:Albertus W. Catlin [Catlin, Albertus W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781594165696
Publisher: Westholme Publishing

On June 11th the report came in that the enemy's machine gun fire had been practically silenced and he was making a last stand at the northern end of the wood. So far, so good, but our progress was now a mere crawl against concentrated resistance and the fight was not over by any means. The enemy was still supported by the guns at Torcy and our men were under constant fire.

Then the Germans, realizing the seriousness of the situation, resolved to make one last desperate effort to regain what they had lost. Reserves were brought up, including an entirely fresh division, and their forces were strongly concentrated along the whole Belleau Wood front. On June 13th they attacked with stubborn fury. Their orders were to retake Belleau Wood and Bouresches at all costs, and God knows they tried. But that depleted line of Marines, backed now by artillery, still held fast. Held? Nay, worn down and decimated as they were by nearly two weeks of bitter fighting, they counter-attacked, and foot by foot, day by day, they pressed the Prussians back.

For days the Marines kept up that steady, unremitting grind, that constant battering at the German gates. They seemed not to know when they were overwhelmed and beaten. Then, on June 18th, their fury flamed out again. There was a scalding artillery shower from the American guns by way of preface, a quick drive across the open behind a barrage, and then the Marines fell tooth and nail upon the town of Torcy. It was a short and merry battle. The crossroads below Torcy were taken at a rush and the troublesome German batteries behind the town were silenced.

On the 19th a heavy barrage tore up the woods and Marine rifles and bayonets proceeded to complete the job. By the 24th the last German was cleared out of the main part of Belleau Wood—or was killed—but it was not until the 26th that the battle was over. On that day Major Shearer of the Sixth was transferred to the command of a battalion of the Fifth and attacked the last bit of woods held by the enemy, which lay like a small green island to the north of Belleau Wood proper. He took 500 prisoners there, besides machine guns and other booty, and the last of that formerly victorious German army, smitten hip and thigh, was driven from cover and forced to fall back to a new line.

Before leaving the dismal waste that was once Belleau Wood, now haunted by the memories of brave and fallen comrades, I have one more story to retell. It is another dog story, and it was told by one of those cheerful ruffians who have been getting their broken bodies mended at the Brooklyn Naval Hospital. This fellow has had a close shave, but American surgical skill has pulled him through.

He took part in some of the hottest fighting in Belleau Wood and it took more than one piece of German metal to make him quit.

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