Transcripts For CSPAN3 American Artifacts U.S. In France Cha

Chateauthirerry to tem the onslaught. The Third Division, wrote one of the most brilliant pages of our military annals. The Second Division, began pushing the germans back, and u. S. Marines fighting with the Second Division, reclaimed ground in a fierce contest known as the battle of belleau woods. American history tv visited key monuments, battlefields and cemeteries in northeastern france with historian mitchell yockelson. We visited the monument to learn why u. S. Forces were in he region. Direct behind me is the chateauthierry monument. We are on top of hill 204, which means it is 204 meters high. The significant of the monuments is to honor the troops that fought in the ainemarne sector. Aine is one of the rivers, marne the other. There was significant engagement in between the two rivers from the end of may through the middle of july of 1918. The chateau tierney monument is being restored in honor of the world war i centennial taking place before the american contribution of 2017 and 2018. On the opposite side of the monument from where i am standing are statues of two women, one american, one french, who are Holding Hands in honor of their sons, rothers, uncles, and fathers who risked their lives here in the aisnemarne, particularly in chateauthierry. The monument was dedicated in 1937. Its one of three significant american monuments on the western front thats established by the American Battle Monuments Commission and remains under their guidance. The monument itself lists some of the villages that the americans liberated. Below that are the divisions, 10 of them, plus two corps, the first and the third, that were actively engaged in this area. That includes belleau woods and chateauthierry. The city of chateauthierry, who had been largely untouched during the war, including the battle of marnes, that would change on may 31, 1918, when german troops broke through the french lines, penetrated past in hopes of crossing the river at chateauthierry, and heading directly to paris. The french were in a panic, and concerned they did not have enough troops to block the germans. They contacted general pershing and asked for his help. General pershing had been fighting desperately to keep the americans as an independent unit, hoping to form his own independent first army at some point by the end of the summer. But he recognized the perilous situation, and he offered the french two divisions that were in the Training Area not far off from paris. One was the Second Division, the other was the Third Division. An american division, at that time, was little more than 27,000 officers. That was twice the size of even the french and German Forces and british forces. The Second Division headed into the direction of belleau woods, while the Third Division head to chateauthierry. They left the area around france, heading on highways that were packed with civilians, because they knew the germans were in the vicinity and threatening paris. The roads were clogged. It was difficult to get to the chateauthierry area. Further troubling their efforts were the fact that they were driving ford trucks and vans, not the detroit michigan variety but ones that had been made in england, of lesser quality parts. They were described as flimsy, with having horrible tires, that took 22 hours to reach a earby area here. The tires would often go flat and the troops would have to stop and change the tires. Eventually they made it, and the seventh machine gun was shipped along the river back of the marne at chateauthierry, where they helped the french prevent the germans from crossing. The american monument on hill 204 can be seen from the city of chateauthierry in the marne river valley. We moved our camera into the ity near the river to continue the story. Mitchell directly behind me is a monument in tribute to the Third Division. Not only for the first world war, where they stopped the germans from crossing the marne, but the Third Division that helped during the normandy invasion, and kept the germans from penetrating further into the marne area. The grateful french placed this monument and keep it well protected in memory of the americans who were in this area in both world wars. There were two bridges that crossed over chateauthierry. Really the only crossing points within five miles to get across the marne. The germans had sent some troops. They fought the americans handtohand here in the town. But the seventh machine gun battalion was able to get across the river on the south side, opposite from where i am standing, and block further penetration from the germans. The germans did make it into the north part of chateauthierry, where they were engaged by the americans and the french. Meanwhile, the french had placed detonations underneath the two bridges, and blew them up, one on june 1, the other on june 3, preventing the germans from going any further. He americans were able to hold the germans back from further penetration. After the battle, the Third Division earned a welldeserved moniker of the rock of the marne. Our next stop is about six miles from the town of chateauthierry on a hill above cemetery. We are standing right in the heart of belleau wood, renamed after the battle which ended on june 26, 1918. The battle itself is iconic in marine corps history. There is no other world war i battlefield for the americans that is set up like a National Park service battlefield in the united states. In 1955, felix llewellyn dedicated this monument. Its the archetype of a marine, hes looking tough with his shirt off. There were two regiments of marines that fought in this area. The fifth and sixth marines. They were part of the second u. S. Division. It was an army division. The marines probably had more experience than the army at the time of world war i. Marines had been deployed around the world, in the caribbean. But general pershing, the commander of the American Expedition forces, didnt want the marines to be part of t. It took lobbying from the congress, by help from the secretary of the navy, the promenade of the marine corps, finally pershing acquiesced and allowed two regiments, the fifth and six marines would become part of the division. They would stand here over a month of fighting. During that period, they lost almost 10,000, wounded and killed. 1800 of those marines were killed. Lets take a look at the area that shows how those marines fought during the period of june fifth through june 26, 1918. The one that im approaching is in 1896 model field gun, that can fire everything from high shrapnel, shrapnel and gas. These guns are what wreaked havoc on the american and rench troops who were trying to break through the woods. You see these field guns, which were really the workhorse of the german army, throughout the western front. And the germans were the masters of defense. They used these when they were attacked, when the allies took the offensive towards them, and caused significant casualties. What we have here is the workhorse of the french army. And the americans, for that matter, because this is a 75 millimeter artillery piece. This gun, and many others like it, were used throughout the western front by the french. It had been used as early as the 1870s, and was a valuable piece of machinery for the americans. It should be known that the americans didnt have their own artillery, but relied on the french to provide artillery pieces in this part of the western front, not only the 75, but the 105 and 110. Artillery was used heavily during the battle of belleau wood, which forced the germans germans to scatter from their trench position, and allowed an opening, which the fifth and sixth marines took advantage of. The americans are forced to go across hedges and heavy rows of wheat, which is now in full bloom in june. It will take another two weeks before the americans are able to penetrate to the south into the woods. Finally on june 24, a major thrust takes the marines through the woods handtohand fighting. On june 25, the marines penetrate deep into the woods. The germans havent fully retreated. Finally on that evening, into the next day, the 26th, the marines have control of the woods. Word us sent to the commander, and the marines now have been ictorious. By the 26th, the marines have captured belleau wood and prevented the germans from going any further in their offensive toward paris. The field pieces we see here, and the other markers throughout the woods, were placed in honor of the marines. This was, again, their iconic battle it certainly, before world war ii, you know the marines fighting in the pacific. The battle of belleau wood stood as the main marine corps battle for heroism. This was basically designed as a park to honor the marines who fought in this area. Standing behind me is one of the icons of the battle. You will see this structure in many photographs, paintings and depictions of this landmark battle for the marines. It was a private hunting preserve, owned by the count and countess of belleau. They would come out here from paris, hunt wild boar and animals. As you can see the structure was heavily damaged, occupied by the germans as an observation post. And then american and french artillery had shattered it to where it was no longer usable by the belleau family after the war. Here you are looking at an artillery shell hole, that has been fired either by the americans or the french, most likely using the 75 millimeter. To my right is a deep crevice, which is a german trench, which they constructed in late may when they started occupying belleau wood. It was through these trenches that the germans were well defended, that the americans and the french had to fire the artillery and eventually move forward with the machine gun, rifle, and handtohand fighting to drive them deep into the woods. Along this path, besides where the trench lines are and the artillery shells, the marine orps Historical Division had placed markers. The markers show the advance of the fifth and sixth marine regiment throughout the course of the battle. We are heading through the Second Division line on the battlefield. And you can see how steep the hills are, and how the troops of the Second Division, including two regiments and marines had to fight their way up this hill, while being raked by german machine gun fire. Of course, these trees that are here now would not have been here at the time. Any foliage would have been completely decimated. This marker commemorates the capture of belleau wood on june 26, 1918. Finally it was in american hands. The Second Division insignia was a star seen throughout the western front. This marker was put up to show it was the Second Division that reached this part of the ine. Im standing in one of the abandoned german trenches, that had been raked by artillery ire. From june 26th, when belleau wood was firmly in american hands, the Second Division troops stayed in this area and were able to have a line of sight across the valley to the arm, which was occupied by the germans. The americans used this to observe the German Movement across the valley from the farm, as they started to attack chateauthierry where they had been driven from in june. The germans are once again driven from chateauthierry, and chateauthierry is once again in american and french hands. The alliance pressed the counterattack forward and by the end of july the force was removed. The tide had now turned. The initiative had passed to ally hands, where it would remain. Eight u. S. Divisions have participated in the successful counteroffensive, and their performance had met their commanders expectations and exceeded all others. The doughboy had proved his ability as a fighter, and it was obvious to all that the constantly increasing American Forces were to be a decisive factor in the war. Mitchell as we head down the hill, we will see the aisnemarne cemetery, which includes the more than 1800 arines that were killed during he battle. Meanwhile, there was a temporary cemetery up on this ridge, and you can see what the cemetery looked like from this faded photograph. There were wooden crosses, that were marked by dogtags. Each soldier in world war i, the first time dogtags were used, they were provided two of them. They were around their neck on a lanyard. And when a soldier was killed and buried, one of the dog tags was kept around his neck, the other was nailed to the wooden cross for later identification. As we would learn, as we get to the cemetery, and especially as we going to the chapel, there are more than 1100 names of soldiers and marines who fought, not just that belleau wood, but chateauthierry and other areas around the marne are missing. We know who these individuals were, we know their units, but we dont know what happened to them. We can only assume they were killed and either buried in isolated graves that werent found, or because of the heavy artillery shelling, they were buried and never seen again. The remnants of belleau wood battlefield are on a hill above he aisnemarne cemetery. The final resting place of more than 2300 americans who died in this region. Mitchell talked with shane williams, a veteran employed by the American Battle Monuments Commission as superintendent of the cemetery. I think its important for american visitors to realize this is their taxpayer dollars at work overseas, to tell the story of what took place here, with the memory of the fallen. Having said that, this is 40 . The headstones you see here are approximately 40 of those lives lost in this geographic region. All world war i. Again, it is not just the attle of belleau wood. I think what people are surprised to understand here, yes, we are on the battlefield where primary u. S. Marine corps took over three weeks of very bloody combat in june of 1918, but in fact they were relieved by u. S. Army troops who continued the fight. Many of whom fell in the field to my left here. A beautiful countryside, as it was in 1918. You have a lot of stories here of u. S. Marine corps, u. S. Army. We had our navy medal of honor recipients buried just behind the camera here. So many stories to tell. We are just trying to find ways to make that connection with the visitor. Is the 204 memorial under your direction as well . We manage out of the cemetery office, about 200 acres approximately. And then hill 204. We call it the chateauthierry american monument, but its 204 meters high. It is a frenchamerican monument the way it commemorates, built and maintained by the market Battle Monument commission. But if you take it detailed look at the villages, the names of the villages inscribed on he monument and why it was built, it is commemorating the french and american soldiers who fought and died sidebyside in world war i. Ind of an interesting way to show the sprinkle of American History and shared linkages. You mentioned being on the battle of belleau wood battlefield, some of it is unique for an American Battlefield in france. We are used to this in the united states, National Park Service Sites like gettysburg. Can you talk about why the battlefield is marked and why it is important for people to walk through it . We are always try to find a way where we can walk in history. Going back and literally in the same footsteps, the marines where they came through the field on june 6 of 1918 to take a small sector here, but at heavy cost. I always found, when i go back stateside, getting in touch with something that is physical, walking in the footsteps of history, that is why i was pleased, in the very early 1920s, american visitors actually found value in preserving that site. F not for those american visitors who came over on these war tourism tours, the battlefield would perhaps not be as preserved as it is today. A sidebar history that didnt have to do with the Monument Commission at the beginning, but was to maintain, that asnt done until the 1930s. The belleau wood memorial association, thank you to those who have since passed on, who fund raised and came over here with american money to purchase those woods. Mitchell was that deeded . It was deed over the French Ministry over to america for maintenance and perpetuity. The ground we are standing on, which is the cemetery, how any . Here, honored over 3000 men. There are 2289 burials and 1060 missing in action. Their names are inscribed in the memorial chapel. Mitchell they could very well be buried in one of these unmarked plots. In fact, we have 251 unknown soldiers, sailor, airman, marines that are buried here, 10 of the burials are unknowns. Their names are likely on the wall here, but they could be on another wall or tablet in one of the american cemeteries as well. Mitchell some of those unknowns have actually been recovered, is that the case here . There are a total of seven of the 1060 since the chapel was completed in 1930. Those listening out there who go to an overseas american cemetery, if you go to the tablet or wall and you see a bronze, small bronze rosette next to the name, that means the person was identified. That doesnt mean they were buried at the site, but they were buried somewhere. Mitchell hows this different from national cemeteries, such as arlington. There are shared challenges when it comes to maintenance. A lot of shared ideas and exchange that way. All of the men and women who were honored and buried in the oversee sites, they fell while serving their country overseas. They are not specifically war cemeteries, because we have many men and women who have died of illness, or accidents. Back in the states with arlington or the National Cemetery that the veteran affairs manages, those are in fact eligible for spouses or dependents of the veterans. Mitchell was this particular plot of land a temporary emetery . We are kind of sort of on the site of one of the emporary cemeteries. Here, just behind the camera, hopefully