Belleau Wood 100th Anniversary Patch
The Battle of Belleau Wood — 100th Anniversary Commemoration (1918-2018)
The Battle of Belleau Wood, fought from 1 to 26 June 1918 near the Marne River in France, stands as one of the most iconic battles in United States Marine Corps history and a defining moment that forged the modern Marine Corps identity. During the German spring offensive of 1918, when German forces had punched through French lines and raced to within 45 miles of Paris, the U.S. 2nd Division — including the 9,500-man 4th Marine Brigade comprising the 5th and 6th Marine Regiments — was ordered to block the advance. When a retreating French officer recommended withdrawal, Marine Captain Lloyd Williams delivered the immortal reply: "Retreat, Hell! We just got here!"
On 6 June 1918, the Marines went on the offensive, charging across open wheat fields into withering German machine gun fire. More Marines were killed and wounded that single day than in the entire previous history of the Marine Corps. Sergeant Major Daniel "Dan" Daly, already a two-time Medal of Honor recipient, rallied his men with the legendary cry that is now carved in stone at the Marine Corps Museum. For three weeks, brutal close-quarters fighting raged through the dense woods — bayonets, trench knives, and hand-to-hand combat became the norm. On 26 June, Major Maurice Shearer sent the famous message: "Belleau Wood now US Marine Corps entirely." The German military, impressed by their ferocity, reportedly dubbed the Marines "Teufel Hunden" — Devil Dogs — a moniker the Corps proudly carries to this day. The battle cost over 1,000 Marines killed and 8,000 wounded, but it proved that American forces could stand against battle-hardened German troops and helped turn the tide of the war.
Perfect For: United States Marines past and present, Marine Corps history enthusiasts, World War I historians and collectors, descendants of Belleau Wood veterans, Devil Dog tradition keepers, and anyone who honors the courage that forged the modern Marine Corps.
This 100th anniversary patch commemorates the battle where the legend of the Devil Dogs was born — a sacrifice and victory that still echoes through every Marine who serves today.
