Belleau Wood Battlefield Preview

Belleau Wood PME (primary grid coordinates)

Les Mares Farm 175356**

“Retreat Hell…” 2/5 initial defense -2-3 Jun

Voie du Chalet 176337**

2/5 HQ

Champillon 185352

1/5 assembly area

Hill 142 195357

1/5 atk - 0400 6 Jun

Viewpoint 1/5 Atk 186372**

road intersection

Rectangle Wood 197367

relation to 1/5 atk

Clignon creek 195370%

limit of 1/5 advance

Wheat-field viewpoint 213352**

3/5 atk evening 6 Jun

Lone-tree temporary cemetery 206344

Lucy le Bocage 206343**

3/6 assembly area prior to atk on southern wood/Boursches

Culvert surgery 208339**

exiting Lucy - surgeries preformed under road

Gob’s gulch 208339-229348**

entry/exit to southern wood

2/6 atk position 220340$

overlooking Boursches

Triangle Farm 228334

extreme right/eastern flank of 4th (Marine) Brigade

Bouresches 225347**

4 stops in/around Boursches 2/6 atk 6 Jun

1/6 LoA 215345

1/6 10 Jun

German position IVO wheat-field 217352**

Draw/stream 217354**

2/5 exploits seam 10/11 Jun

2/5-2/6 RIP (?) position/ the “waist” 214359**

13/14 gas atk during RIP

Memorial Park**

IVO RIP with US Army 7th Regt 15-17 jun

3/5 final atk 214365**

3/5 atks 22-25 Jun

German points

Cemetery 206370 [1st PME stop]**

Initial internment camp 215367

shortly after battle, EPWs interned

front line - Bussiares-Torcy- Belleau-Bouresches-Vaux

rough trace of German frontline throughout battle; wood was advance position

Central defensive position in wood 217354

German est main defensive lines at southern, central & northern portions of wood

Defensive positions east of Bouresches 222348 & 220348 (hill top)

Artillery Position 233379 [need to confirm]

mainly on reverse slope; some on fwd slope enabling direct LoS/fire

USMC BAS/RAS

Champion

la Voi du Chatel

Lucy-le-Bocage

Initial CPs

5th - Marigny

6th - Montgivrault

Other points referenced in books/sources:

Hill 181 - 214347 - south side of wheat field

Hill 169 - 214354 - north side of wheat field

Hill 133 - 212365 - high ground above ABMC cemetery

ABMC Memorial [last PME stop]**

overlooks Chateau Thierry - discuss rest of Marines campaign through Nov 1918

** - points covered on all PMEs

% - 5th MAR PMEs

$ - 6th MAR PMEs

The World War I Chateau-Thierry American Monument, designed by Paul Cret, is located on a hill two miles west of Chateau-Thierry, France, and commands a wide view of the valley of the Marne River. It commemorates the sacrifices and achievements of the Americans and French before and during the Aisne-Marne and Oise-Aisne offensives.

The monument, also known as the American Aisne-Marne Memorial or Le Monument américain à cote 204, consists of an impressive double colonnade rising above a long terrace. On its west facade are heroic sculptured figures representing the United States and France. On its east facade is a map showing American military operations in this region and an orientation table pointing out the significant battle sites.

German advances in late May 1918 led to the 3rd Division joining the fight. Its units assisted French troops in preventing the Germans from crossing the Marne River. The 3rd Division held the south bank of the Marne until the French American counteroffensive forced German withdrawal. It earned the nickname “Rock of the Marne.” At the nearby cemeteries rest those Americans who gave their lives in the service of their country.