The Bravest Deeds of Men: A Field Guide for the Battle of Belleau Wood

The Battle of Belleau Wood in June 1918 was the first major engagement between the Germans and U.S. Marines. The Germans were stunned to find that not only could the Marines fight, but they were also deadly marksman who were incapable of quitting the field of battle until it was theirs. Today, Bois de la Brigade de Marine and the surrounding woods, small towns, and farmland appear much the same as it did a century ago. The battlefield remains scarred with the impact craters from artillery and the trenches and defensive positions carved into the ground by a previous generation of fighters. With the creation of Colonel William T. Anderson’s, USMCR (Ret) field guide, visitors can now walk the area with the history of the battle in their pockets and at their fingertips. This guide was written based on Colonel Anderson’s experience leading staff rides and private tours of the battlefield and will give readers the ability to experience the terrain on their own.Colonel Anderson led Marines on tours of Belleau Wood for 10 years while stationed at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Belgium. He served as the officer-in-charge, Reserve Augmentation Unit and Deputy Chief of Staff, Headquarters Marine Corps Forces Europe, from 1992 to 1998. From 2009 to 2017, he served on the adjunct faculty of the Command and Staff College’s Distance Education Program, Marine Corps University, Quantico, Virginia. He has published numerous articles and notes about Belleau Wood in the course of his career. This field guide serves as an excellent addition to our U.S. Marines in World War I Commemorative Series and as a useful tool for Marines, historians, and all those interested in the battle.