The 4th Marine Brigade at Belleau Wood and Soissons: History and Battlefield Guide

I'm not any kind of a war historian and I've never read any book on WW1 but thought it was a great informative read! Since I had no background in the genre I was relatively lost in understanding the scope of platoons, divisions, battalions, etc as I was reading but I have no doubt that anyone who is into this field will greatly appreciate those details that I struggled with. I'd also say my ignorance did not detract in any way from my enjoyment of the book or my appreciation for the historic contribution!It was great that Mike had the opportunity early in his career to find remaining WW1 veterans and get the first hand perspective. It showed seamlessly in his writing and made for a rich read beyond the chronicle of events. I love the way he interspersed the current travel tour of the field with the events of the battles. It frustrated me that I couldn't be there right now as I was reading but it did keep me grounded in today and honored the French preservation of hallowed ground. I love that he chose to keep the two battles together. I sense that it's not normally approached that way and (again as a novice) I think it was absolutely correct to respect the combined events. I love the descriptions of the developing technology in weaponry, tanks, air forces, etc. I also love that the author left it at the descriptions of what was there and didn't get bogged down in any modern-day comparisons during the battle segments. That discipline kept me in the field of play which was where I needed to be as a reader (rather than an informed historian). And I especially love Mike Miller’s compassion for the lives on the field and the recognition of individual experiences, good and bad, that kept it real and human. Really a well done, very readable, piece of historical research and writing!

perfect. thanks

Very helpful sourced material. My grandfather was at Belleau Wood with 5th Marines, and, though he talked about it, only gave me a sanitized version. Reading about the horror and heroism of those in combat really helps me honor his memory even more.

Having read a fair amount military history, I harbored some general expectations ( big picture focus, generals and heads of state discussing strategy, large troop movements, concentration on the Allied point of view, questioning the decisions of major commanders, etc.).But this unique book blitzed my expectations with a strong focus on intriguing individual level combat. The closest parallel in my reading would be the individual and unit detail described in "The Liberation Trilogy" ( Army at Dawn, etc.) by Rick Atkinson.The book combines a magnifying glass approach bolstered by incredibly thorough research (much of it original through direct contact with 50 ageing veterans) to recreate for the reader a rifle company–level experience in June 1918. It is intensely focused, with a full one hundred of its pages devoted to three critical days of key battles, hour by hour, much of it from the perspective of the individual Marines and first level commanders. Interspersing the point of view of the Germans when available was insightful, and the empathetic use of letters and comments by relatives and friends enriched the journey. Deeply engaged, I felt that I was there.The thoroughly researched background on many individuals shared a common, moving narrative and in some ways a significant metaphor.In my summary words:The Marine was from a small Southern or Midwestern town, typically from a well-established family including a high achieving father. He graduated from VMI or VPI or an Ivy League school, participating in activities with distinction. Or, perhaps he was a clerk or a farmer, integral to his community. He went through training including Quantico and married his high school sweetheart knowing he would be shipped out soon. He joined a newly formed company and quickly found himself in the middle of an assault at Belleau Wood. Whether in an exposed wheat field or suddenly surrounded in the woods by implanted machine guns, he performed heroically, beyond any imagination. He followed the general tactical guidance of "Go ahead and fight 'em and kill 'em, damn it! Straight ahead, what are you waiting for? " (p. 116), or the deadly command of "Advance by rushes!". Of the 50 or so Marines in a typical assault, sometimes few were left standing. But, the assault (and follow-ons) eventually attained its objective. Whether surviving or not, the young man was decorated for his bravery and celebrated in a ceremony and letters afterward.My generalized narrative above was engagingly and heroically repeated in great detail in various situations by many small groups of Marines for thirty intense days. As the book articulates, the cumulative impact of the Fourth Marine Brigade's many small battles was victory. In the big picture, it convinced (1) the Allies of the American strength and resilience they could count on, and (2) the Germans that the "war was now unwinnable".I was moved by the sacrifices made by the Marines-- many of them 'the guys next door' back home. The book blends a story about the birthing of the Marines, the heroic lives of many brave young men and the reaffirmation America's strength as a newcomer on the world stage.

J. Michael Miller is already known for bringing history out of the shadows.His American Civil War work changed a fast-developing section of Northern Virginia forever. Bulldozers were poised to rip apart a forgotten battlefield and its still-intact war trenches when his book on the Battle of North Anna was published. By 1996, 75 acres were preserved to commemorate the 5000 combined casualties, and the North Anna Battlefield Park has since expanded to 750 acres.Now, Miller's decades of World War I research, with travels to archives in Europe, Central America and across the USA, plus his interviews with numerous friends and family of Belleau Wood and Soissons Marines -- and from the 1980's, his own interviews with veterans of the 4th Brigade -- bring gripping new quotes and enlightening new conclusions about one of the fiercest Marine campaigns of all time.Belleau Wood's crucial place in creating the now-familiar image of the U.S. Marine is documented here in a page-turner filled with detailed, never-before told accounts of astonishing battlefield bravery. The 4th Brigade earned worldwide glorification across the mass media of the time (despite interservice rivalry). But Miller is the first to emphasize what happened next: the soldiers who made it through the Belleau Wood carnage were immediately sent on to another campaign that had a greater impact on the war. You will learn how the Marines at Soissons were ordered into an impossible task of taking a crucial German position through a killing field with powerful defenses on three sides and German control of the sky.Miller includes dozens of GPS coordinates and guide details for battlefield visitors to know exactly what happened where you stand, including the names and the stories of people who died on those spots in July 1918. This book offers countless poignant accounts of truly timeless stories that everyone will read and remember. Get it.