wwi marine memorial at belleau wood

This area is located in the woods behind the cemetery. Ask in the chapel for directions, but if you come out the front entrance, make a right and stay to the right, you should end up near these guns and the Iron Mike statue. There are some other sites to see near here, we did not have time to see them.

If you are only going make one centennial visit to an American WWI site, the area around Chateau Thierry starting with Belleau Wood is the trip to make. The battle here was America’s largest engagement since Appomattox; and June 6, 1918 was the highest single day of casualties in Marine Corps history to that date.Once you leave the main Paris highway, the pace slows down on the country road while you look for the guide posts. Which woods would it be? Which patch is the famous wheat field? Did we miss a turn? And then you are there. A white flag pole at the end of a quiet lane leads into the woods of the former hunting preserve ground up by battle. And on this particular cold and rainy October morning, alone with only our companions and thoughts, we were struck by the absolute silence of the forest. It didn’t seem so much ghostly as dutifully enfolding and guarding the solemnity of its history. We walked the muddy paths reading the small memorial markers trying to imagine those three weeks in June a hundred years ago. What was it like with a machine gun behind every rock and tree? How awful must have been the hand-to-hand combat and slash and plunge of bayonets? Which indents were shallow trench remains, which “only” shell holes? How many trees there today are survivors, how many replacements? Logging has been forever forbidden because of the danger of embedded shrapnel to the saws. The captured German 7.7 cm FK 16 guns around the memorial monument give dark testament to the viciousness of the fighting, the shadows of the trees unable to answer the questions of war. The only response is a lowered voice and a realization that history should be heeded, honored and remembered.

Very well kept cemetery with a German one next door. Very moving such a loss of life. Very helpful in the visitors office and will give you a map so you can go into the woods and see the weapons left at the battle. In the chapel the names of the missing are engraved on the walls.

Such a remarkable cemetery. There is also a nice walking trail with several Marine Core plaques with information about battles fought in the area. Great place to visit--well worth the trip.

Very moving experience. English Speaking guide at the entrance was very helpful. Worth driving into the woods and taking the recommended walk to get a feel of the place.

We arrived here quite late in the day but were welcomed by the local American Superintendent - He advised us to walk to the chapel and visit the site due to time constraints, which we did - It is a fabulously well kept site (As are other US graves and memorial sites) After seeing the memorial, the Superintendent walked up to see us and showed us a number of things - we were joined by a party from the US and he let them help lower the flags and told some wonderful stories about the conditions and sacrifice of these young men. We enjoyed this visit and would recommend to anyone in the area. Behind the cemetery is Belleau Wood itself, a short drive from the cemetery (Ask for a plan) there is a walk with points of interest, we didn't have time to do but sampled part which was again interesting and poignant - Walk take 45 or 150 minutes according to the plan.

I think that anyone who visits the Somme and visits these grave sites no matter whether you have relatives or not the whole tribute with the writing of who is interred or on the walls is a most moving experience and one not to be missed

This Cemetery and memorial cite is stunning; the condition of the grounds is immaculate, they have maintained the integrity of the surrounding woods by cleaning the trenches and keeping some cannons placed exactly where they were left... You can see wounds on the older trees where they were damaged by artillery and machine gun fire. It is without a doubt one of the most intense experiences I have ever had. My husband and I went for the memorial service, he is a Marine, and the local support is amazing. So many French men, women, and children were there to honor the American Marines, asking to take pictures with my husband, thanking him, it was more than I could have imagined. It is easy to lose sight of the sacrifices these men gave in America, because it didn't take place in our backyards, but it is remembered and lived daily here. The people have not forgotten, and we couldn't ask for the men who found their final resting place in Belleau Wood and the surrounding wheat fields to have better care and more love. There is nothing I can complain about. It was beautiful.

I was surprised at the immaculate condition of this memorial site, especially since admission is free, and I am so happy that my husband (a USMC infantry officer) and I were able to make the trip. We rented a car and drove less than an hour outside of Paris to find it nestled in beautiful French countryside. We arrived over lunch, so the superintendent was not around while we roamed the cemetery and the memorial, but we caught him later after trying (and failing) to find the Devil Dog Fountain in the village. He spent about an hour with us, telling us everything we wanted to know about the history (and folklore) of the area. He then gave us the key and precise instructions on how to access the fountain (it is nestled in the village behind a little gate, across from the Pershing museum.) The water was delicious and I'm already feeling younger :)Also, don't miss the trench remnants. It makes for a somber, yet thoughtful experience. Very worthy day trip from Paris.

Ok, if you are reading this then you already know the history and the importance to the US Marine Corps. You can read the other reviews about Belleau Wood, I am going to tell you the easiest and probably the cheapest way to get there and visit the battlefield and monuments. Catch the train to Chateaux Thierry from Gare du Est in Paris. Trains run a few times an hour there and back and will cost around 16 Euros. When you get to the station in Chateaux Thierry, call Taxis Castel at 03 23 83 06 02 and ask for Frangoise. She does not speak very much English but the dispatcher does. Tell them you want to tour the Belleau Wood battlefield and monuments. First stop should be the Aisne-Marne Monument. After you have walked around the monument and grounds, go to the Aisne-Marne Cemetery. The cemetery office is open almost every day of the year but check the schedule at the website abmc.gov. David Atkinson is the superintendent there and will be able to help you with information and just about anything else, including a map. The battlefield is located behind the cemetery and there is a road leading directly to the middle of it. After touring the battlefield you next want to head to the bulldog fountain (yes, the water is safe to drink!). If the Jack Pershing museum is closed (probably will be), David will have the key to get into the courtyard where the fountain is located. If you can’t get the key, walk around the building to the right and there you can get into the courtyard very easily. We traveled a long way to get there so we were ready to trespass if necessary but try to get the key first! If you have any questions or concerns, ask David. The taxi can pick you up at the train station, take you to the monument, cemetery, battlefield, the museum and fountain and anywhere else you want to go for a very reasonable price. We did everything, had time to walk the battlefield and it was less than 60 Euros. Of course, pricing depends on what you want to see and do. It is an awesome place to visit. Semper Fi

My American partner wanted to see a US military cemetery on our way back through France. I chose Aisne-Marne cemetery at random just because it was close to our route. I'm delighted I did, because I had no idea beforehand what an important site the nearby Belleau Wood is for US military history and the US Marine Corps in particular. This tiny patch of the Western Front counts as the USMC's modern baptism of fire, with more casualties during this short burst of fighting than in its entire previous history - and as a result this is an iconic site with a huge attendance each year on Memorial Day, the US remembrance day. There is a trail through the wood, where you can visit key points in the fighting - but the best introduction is to talk to the curator at the cemetery at the foot of the wood, just in front of the village of Belleau. He can provide trail maps, information on this and other US sites, and plenty more besides including the wealth of US Marine folklore about the site, some of which is based on fact and some not so much. There are only a small number of US WWI cemeteries and memorials in France, and for obvious reasons a lot fewer battle sites to visit than if you are interested in the French, British or Canadian history. But after our visit to Aisne-Marne and Belleau Wood, we would recommend this as the one to go to.

We arrived at Belleau Wood on a damp, dreary December day. It was a far cry of what would have been experienced by the young Marines on the hot summer days of 1918, but it made the mood of the memorial site and cemetery even more solemn. The approach to the memorial to the Marine Brigade is through the forest; and the small clutch of period artillery pieces and shells that surround monument made a moving setting and one well worth the visit. The cemetery site, and the rows of white crosses (and stars of David), was equally moving with the two tall American flags and the imposing tower of the cemetery building looking down upon them.It was one of the high points of this visit to France, and one worth the visit.

This trip was the highlight of our holiday and the reason why our ex-US Marine son-in-law wanted to visit the area so much. We visited the cemetery, memorial and took a trip around the wood itself with the help of the written guided tour. It was really moving to stand on the hill overlooking the field where more US Marines were slaughtered in one day than had previously died in their entire history - over one thousand casualties in a single day. We stood in the dense, cool woodland overlooking the bright golden cornfield baked by a hot sunny day and it made your skin prickle, we couldn't hear any birdsong or other noise. It is hard to imagine what bravery and courage those men had to overcome their fears and climb that steep hill to defeat their enemy. Of course we had to visit the famous/infamous Devil Dog fountain and our son-in-law drank from it thus increasing his life expectancy by ten years (if you believe the legend). The cemetery is kept in immaculate condition and the lady at the Lodge was very helpful and friendly as was the young lady at the museum. It was poignant to read the names of the dead and think that so many of them had no doubt travelled to the US from Europe to find a better life and then returned to Europe to meet their death.Look out for the marker on the opposite side of the road which marks the extent of the boundary line of the advance on November 1918 and also the little German cemetery just up the road which is in such stark contrast to the impressive glory of the American one. A poignant comment on victory and defeat in war. An absolute must for every American to stop by and pay their respects to their fellow countrymen buried on foreign soil and a moving experience for all of us.

We left Paris from Gare du Est and took the train to Chateaux Thierry. It's only an hour to visit the battleground of Belleau Wood. It's easy to find the Monuments, Cemetary, Marine memorial with scattered cannon and the hotel (Best Western) where Marine groups stay. The hardest find was the "Devil Dog" memorial fountain. First you must find the small village of Belleau and it's Gen. Pershing Museum. The Devil Dog fountain is just across the street. Folks at the Museum must open the locked gate for you gain access to see the fountain.

There atop the hill at Belleau Wood, with the bodies of so many young Americans buried below, is a tribute to the Marines, yes, United States Marines, who took part in the battle of Belleau Wood. The trails are lovely and well marked and show the scars of the battle, even today. Well worth the trip.