06/06/2026
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On June 1, 1918, the battle of Belleau Wood began.
The Marines who fought there, cemented a legacy for generations to come. This was the first large-scale battle for the Marines and one that would be seared into the collective memory of the United States Marine Corps. The battle was fierce and raged for more than three weeks, finally coming to an end on June 26, 1918.
The Germans said the Marines fought like devils, calling them "teufel hunden." From that day on, Marines would be forever known as Devil Dogs.
This painting, by artist Franc-Earle Schoonover, shows the Marinesβ savage fight for infamous, French woods.