American Cemetery
The Aisne/Marne Cemetery
The Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial lie on the outskirts of the small village of Belleau about 10 kilometres northwest of Chateau-Thierry and the US Monument.
Belleau Wood was the scene of a desperate struggle by the novice American Army to counter attack the German advances made in May 1918. Their victory gained, the American Army buried its fallen in a sweeping curve at the base of the hill on which the wood stands.
It contains the graves of 2,289 American Dead, most of whom fought in the vicinity and in the Marne valley in the summer of 1918.
The white marble crosses or Stars of David record the unit details of each casualty and their State.
Weedon Osborne MH
Amongst the rows you will come across a Medal of Honor recipient with the distinctive gold star and gold lettering.
Lieutenant (Dental Corps), U.S. Navy
Born: 13 November 1892, Chicago
Died: 6 June 1918, aged 25
Grave: A 3 39
Citation
For extraordinary heroism while attached to the 6th Regiment, US Marines, in actual conflict with the enemy and under fire during the advance on Bouresche, France, on 6 June 1918.
In the hottest of the fighting when the marines made their famous advance on Bouresche at the southern edge of Belleau Wood, Lt Osborne threw himself zealously into the work of rescuing the wounded.
Extremely courageous in the performance of this perilous task, he was killed while carrying a wounded officer [Capt Duncan 96 Coy, 2nd Bn, 6 Marines]to a place of safety.
The Chapel
In the centre of the curve and immediately in front of the entrance a memorial chapel has been erected.
Inside the walls have been inscribed with the names of the 1060 missing from fighting in the area.
The stained glass windows show fighting soldiers as well as the insignia of the participating allies of the war.
Cram and Ferguson of Boston, Massachusetts were the architects of the cemetery's memorial features.
The cemetery is open daily to the public from 09:00 to 17:00 except 25 December and 1 January. It is open on other French national holidays. When open, a staff member is on duty in the Visitors' Building to answer questions and escort relatives to grave and memorial sites.
Up behind the chapel
If you climb the somewhat treacherous pathway up the hill behind the Chapel you will get a fine view looking down and across the area as well as finding a memorial to the 2nd Division.
2nd Division Memorial
The Hunters' Lodge
Up in the trees you will find this Pavillon de Chasse which featured prominently in the final moments of the battle for the wood on 26 June 1918.
It also features in a well known drawing for the French publication l'Illustration, by the French artist Georges Scott showing the taking of the wood by the Marines.
Although it first appears that you can enter the wood from the Cemetery grounds you can't.
Leave the cemetery by the main entrance and turn immediately right at the next junction. This takes you up into the wood and the Marines Memorial.
The Marines Memorial
It is all to easy to forget that German casualties were also severe in the area so please take a few moments to visit their Soldatenfriedhof which is only a moment's drive from this cemetery. It's sombre note in stark contrast to the white graves and chapel within site and hearing.
Belleau Soldatenfriedhof
For a short note on the background to the fighting please see here.
Belleau Wood and the Second Battle of the Marne