Bullet and Shell Civil War Projectiles Forum

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: 6lbgun on June 06, 2017, 06:58:06 PM

Title: Remember?
Post by: 6lbgun on June 06, 2017, 06:58:06 PM
June 6, 1944.  D-Day.  73 years ago. The turning point of the war in Europe.  American Casualties: 1465 dead, 3184 wounded, 1928 missing.
How easily we forget.
Please remember our history.
Dan
Title: Re: Remember?
Post by: CarlS on June 07, 2017, 12:10:21 AM
How timely.  We have a WWII vet in our Relic club and he comes quite regularly.   He stood up tonight and mentioned the day and a bit about the war.  Also of interest he mentioned that as a kid he was part of a tour at the Cyclorama in Atlanta and the tour guide was a Confederate veteran. Amazing to meet a WWII vet and someone who had met a Civil War vet.   Not many left. 
Title: Re: Remember?
Post by: relicrunner on June 07, 2017, 01:44:24 PM
My great uncle, Lt James Bernard Scarr, 30th INF, 3rd DIV was killed by a German artillery shell on June 6, 1918 in the vicinity of Belleau Wood

Also on June 6th in 1918:
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6 June 1918
Arguably, this was the most catastrophic day in Marine Corps history to this date. Two assaults take place. At 0500, the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment attacks west of Belleau Wood straightening the front and capturing strategic Hill 142 to support an assault on the wooded area. The attack was successful despite the lack of preparation and poor timing. It went off with only 2 companies and timely arrival of the other two avoided a defeat. Gunnery Sgt E. A. Janson's was awarded a Medal of Honor for his service in this assault. A member of Capt. Hamilton's 49th Co., he was responsible for effectively stopping a German counterattack.


Twelve hours later battalions of the 5th and 6th Marine Regiments frontally assault the woods from the south and west and attempt to capture Bouresches on the east edge of the woods. This afternoon attack was to be coordinated between the 3rd Batt, 5th Marines [3/5] and 3rd Batt, 6th Marines [3/6] with the latter eventually taking the village of Bouresches.

The attack against the woods proper goes grimly. Crossing a wheat field where they are exposed to machine gun fire. Gunnery Sgt Dan Daly asks his men, "Come on ya sons-of-bitches, ya want to live forever?' The attack is only able to seize a small corner of the wood. The army 2nd Engineer Regiment is called on to provide reinforcements.

The poorly coordinated attack on the woods left the 3/5 decimated and the 3/6 struggling to get into the southern edge of the woods. The Brigade order was amended and the 2/6 (in reserve around Triangle Farm) was directed to take Bouresches. Capt Duncan's 96th Company led the way with future Corps Commandant Lt. Clifton Cates. Lead elements of the company got into the village and were then reinforced by Capt Zane's 79th Company. The retention of the village was a real struggle due to the fact that the Marine flanks were wide-open fields and any attempt to reinforce received heavy German fire. Personal bravery kept the Marines supplied with needed supplies. US Navy Dental Service Officer Lt. JG. Weedon Osborne's received the Medal of Honor after being killed trying to save Capt Duncan. Today there is street in Bouresches named for him.

In addition to the village, the Brigade was directed to take the railroad station just outside. However, it was heavily manned and protected by a railroad embankment providing the Germans excellent fields of fire and the attack failed. On this day, the Marine Brigade suffered the worst single day's casualties in USMC history with 1087 men killed or wounded.

YES, LET US NOT FORGET!