Des Plaines in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Belleau Wood — June 1918

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 21, 2025

1. Belleau Wood — June 1918 Marker

Inscription. "The Marines didn't win the war here, but they saved the Allies from defeat." (Lt. Gen. R.L. Bullard, U.S. Army)
Dedicated to the Marines and Corpsmen of the 4th Brigade, 2d Division, AEF (A little raft of sea soldiers in the ocean of the Army)

★★★ Semper Fidelis ★★★

Erected 2009 by Northwest Suburban Detachment, Marine Corps League.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • War, World I.

Location. 42° 2.623′ N, 87° 52.569′ W. Memorial is in Des Plaines, Illinois, in Cook County. It is at the intersection of East Ballard Road and Rand Road on East Ballard Road. The marker is in the Belleau Woods Forest Preserve. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Des Plaines IL 60016, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds

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itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Belleau Wood (here, next to this marker); The Battle of Belleau Wood: The 2nd Infantry's Triumph (a few steps from this marker); Des Plaines River Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); First McDonald's Franchise (approx. half a mile away); Socrates Rand Grist Mill (approx. 0.6 miles away); Des Plaines Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2992 (approx. 0.6 miles away); Des Plaines Savings & Loan Association (approx. 0.6 miles away); Des Plaines Pumping Station Cornerstone (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Des Plaines.

More about this memorial. The marker is affixed to a stone, which sits in front of a pole flying the Marine Corps flag. The marker is the right-most (westernmost) of three memorials in Belleau Wood, a Cook County Forest Preserve named after the famed battle, and the oldest of the three.

Regarding Belleau Wood — June 1918. The Marines played a key role in

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 21, 2025

2. Belleau Wood — June 1918 Marker

The marker is in front of the Marine Corps flag.

the nearly month-long Battle of Belleau Wood in June 1918, a hard-fought Allied victory during Germany's 1918 spring offensive. This memorial is dedicated in particular to the 4th Marine Brigade, which famously drove the Germans from Belleau Wood on June 26, 1918, in a battle that included bloody hand-to-hand combat and left about 1,000 American troops dead and more than 3,000 injured. A few days later, France's commanding general officially renamed Belleau Wood as the “Wood of the Marine Brigade.”

Also see . . . Marine Corps League official site. (Submitted on March 22, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Painting of the Battle of Belleau Wood image. Click for full size.

Painting by Frank E. Schoonover; courtesy of Naval History and Heritage Command, U.S. Navy

3. Painting of the Battle of Belleau Wood

According to the Naval History and Heritage Command, this painting of the Battle of Belleau Wood is in the possession of the U.S. Marine Corps Museum.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 22, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 138 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 22, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.