Today in Marine Corps History

6 June 1918: Marines advanced into the forest against German machine guns. Arguably, this was the most catastrophic day in Marine Corps History to this date with 1087 men killed or wounded. Two assaults take place. At 0500, the 1st Battalion 5th Marines attacks west of Belleau Wood straightening the front and capturing strategic Hill 142 to support an assault on the wooded area. Twelve hours later battalions of 5th and 6th Marine Regiments frontally assault the woods from south and west and capture Bouresches on the east edge of the woods. They emerged with the German nickname Teufelhunden, or "devil dogs," after breaking through the front lines.