The Battle of Belleau Wood, June 1-26, 1918: American and German forces engaged in fierce combat near the Marne River in France during World War I. The legendary battle resulted in 2,289 American dead and 1,060 missing in action and presumed dead. German forces lost 8,625 soldiers. After the German defeat, the French re-named the forest Bors de la Brigade de Marine (Wood of the Marine Brigade) to honor America’s Fifth- and Sixth Marine Corps Regiments. The regiments had lost 1,811 Marines in the battle. The French government also awarded these regiments the Fourragere. Today’s Marines serving in these regiments continue to wear the green Fourragere braid on the left shoulder with designated uniforms. Reputedly, German forces called the Marines Teufelshunde (hell hounds). This evolved into ‘Devil Dog(s)’ and is a respected moniker for today’s U.S. Marine.
Approximately 16 million military personnel and civilians died as a result of World War I’s predominately trench warfare. Approximately 20 million were wounded.