Across the road from the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery sits the village of Belleau and within the village there is a courtyard of an old chateau that contains a fountain. The cemetery contains the final resting place of 2,289 Marines from the 4th Marine Brigade who fought in and around the woods of Belleau in early June 1918. It is said the Germans facing the Marines called them ‘Devil Dogs’ due to their ferocity and fighting ability. To this day Marines and former Marines visit to drink from the fountain and pay their respects to those who fought in the area and never came home. It is quite a moving sight to see these guys take part in that old tradition as it clearly means so much to the United States Marine Corps

Submitted by Paul Colbourne, SGWT Battlefield Guide