On June 5, 1918, the 2nd Division, made up of soldiers and marines, launched an offensive on German lines at Belleau Wood. Using sources on both sides of the Atlantic and personally interviewing many of those who fought at the wood, Asprey combines excitement with detail and accuracy in telling of this major battle of World War I. He describes the hardships, the combination of tactical ingenuity and pure guts which ultimately enabled Major Maurice Shearer to report to Brigadier General Harbord on June 26th, “Belleau Wood now U.S. Marine Corps entirely.” Back in print after many years—first time in paperback. On June 15, 1918, the 2nd U.S. Division--consisting of army soldiers and combat-ready troops recruited from the Marine Corps by General Pershing to supplement limited American forces--met with their German opponents at Belleau Wood. At the time, Allied spirits were extremely low; the question was not if the Germans would march into Paris, but when . But the 2nd fought hard and pulled out a victory, and created the psychological turning point that allowed the Allies to end the war by year's end. Military historian Robert Asprey tells this rousing tale with much first-hand testimony (in interviews, memoirs, and letters home) from the troops that made it happen. At Belleau Wood is the full and dramatic story of America's greatest World War I battle. On June 5, 1918, the 2nd Division, made up of soldiers and marines - for the most part inexperienced young men - launched an offensive on German lines at Belleau Wood. Using sources on both sides of the Atlantic and personally interviewing many of those who fought at the wood, Asprey combines excitement with detail and accuracy of the finest historical writing in telling of the action which ensued. He describes the hardships, the horrible snafus, and the combination of tactical ingenuity and pure guts which ultimately enabled Major Maurice Shearer to report to Brigadier General Harbord on June 26th, "Belleau Wood now U.S. Marine Corps entirely". Robert B. Asprey, Captain, U. S. Marine Corps (ret.), author of The Panther's Feast, The First Battle of the Marne, Semper Fidelis , Frederick the Great: The Magnificent Enigma, War in the Shadows: The Guerrilla in History, and The German High Command at War: Hindenburg and Ludendorff Conduct World War I , and numerous magazine articles, was educated at the University of Iowa, Oxford University the University of Vienna and the University of Nice. Wounded on Iwo Jima, he also served in the Korean War as a captain.