Come on, you sons of bitches. Do you want to live forever?

A United States Marine Corps non-commissioned officer attributed to Marine First Sergeant Daniel Daley, Baylow Wood, June 6th, 1918.

Hey folks, welcome to the Battles of the First World War podcast. Episode 46, Balo Wood,

Warriors Into the Woods.

The 6th of June, 1918, dawned with the guns pounding away to the north.

The U.S. Army General in charge of the 4th Marine Brigade, it was the best man on hand for the job in those early days, was one Brigadier General James Harbored, and he provided

only a five-minute artillery barrage of Hill 142 before the first of the 5th Marines stepped

out into 300 meters of open wheat fields.

There would be no creeping or rolling barrage to further soften the way for them.

The hard work would all have to be done by near-suicidal bravery and firepower,

which was what the American leadership believed in.

They advanced in perfect waves in a throwback to the summer of 1914.

Those Marines of the 1st Battalion 5th Regiment, both grizzled and salty NCO, and do-eyed young leathernecks,

were instantly hit with heavy machine gun fire.

They made perfect targets, and the lack of artillery preparation made itself promptly felt.

Marines dropped in complete ranks as the machine guns hammering rain of angry bullets

punched into them and spun them around or knocked them down.

The one-five Marines lost 13 officers and 325 men just getting to Hill 142,

figures that represented 90% of the officers and 50% of the enlisted men.

By superhuman determination and reckless bravery,

some Marines survived the assault and seized the hill from the German enemy.

But it wasn't enough.

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