Facing massed German machine guns, the Marines made sweep after
bloody sweep through the key position of Bellau wood, having taken
it, ceded it, and then retaken it a total of six separate times in
some of the fiercest, bloodiest, most intense combat of WW1.
Repeatedly urged to turn back by the French, Captain Lloyd Williams
of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine regiment, uttered his now famous
retort, "Retreat, hell. We just got here". By the end of that
terrible June in 1918, the Marines had broken the back of the
German Spring offensive, and won the nickname Teufelshunde, or
Devil Dogs, from their enemies.It also won such admiration from the
French that the wood's name was changed to Bois de la Brigade de
Marine, and the regiment was awarded the Croix De Guerre. The
Marines took 6, 777 casualties, the highest rate in their history,
and one that stood until Tarawa in WWII. This pivotal battle is
recreated here by those who fought it. Drawing on numerous
first-hand accounts of the month-long engagement, this book
captures the spirit of the Leathernecks in desperate battle. It
offers a harrowing look at a critical campaign, in which "men were
being mowed down like wheat", yet also tells the story of
camaraderie and courage that carried the day. Rich with the
personal observations and insights that bring history to life, this
is a journey into a past battle to be welcomed by all history and
military buffs.
General
Imprint: |
Motorbooks International
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
April 2008 |
First published: |
April 2008 |
Authors: |
Dick Camp
|
Dimensions: |
210 x 270 x 9mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback
|
Pages: |
128 |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-7603-3189-7 |
Categories: |
Books >
Social sciences >
Warfare & defence >
Special & elite forces
|
LSN: |
0-7603-3189-8 |
Barcode: |
9780760331897 |
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