devildog34 Posted December 9, 2010 Share #1 Posted December 9, 2010 I have attached a few photos to a few Marines that I thought were poignant reminders of the people behind the statistical figures. Miles H. Dodge was a 21-one year old writer for the Rochester Herald when he enlisted in the Marines on April 18, 1917. He was from Camden, Maine and was with the 18th Company 2nd Battalion 5th Marines. He was killed in action June 1, 1918. I believe that he was the first Marine killed at the engagement at Belleau Wood. His unit had just moved into Bois de Veuilly a few kilometers west of Belleau Wood, St. Martin Woods and Lucy-le-Bocage. I am awaiting his records to verify the cause of death but undoubtedly he was killed by artillery fire although according to Capt. Elliott Cooke, an army officer assigned as a platoon commander with the 18th Company, there were casualties caused by strafing enemy planes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devildog34 Posted December 9, 2010 Author Share #2 Posted December 9, 2010 Here is a memorial to him in Maine. He is buried in France at the Aisne-Marne cemetery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devildog34 Posted December 9, 2010 Author Share #3 Posted December 9, 2010 Pvt. Willard G. Leenhouts was the son of a physician from Detroit, Michigan and enlisted May 2, 1917. He was assigned to Headquarters Company working as a messman. On July 3, 1918 while occupying a position in Belleau Wood, according to PhM Forest Medkirk, mail call was sounded and Leenhouts had just gotten up out of his hole to go see if any mail had arrived for him. Medkirk claims he had just talked to Leenhouts a few minutes before mail call when an air burst shell detonated and a piece of shrapnal hit him in the chest killing him instantly. Pvt. Robert Carroll also a member of Headquarters company stated that Leenhouts was instantly killed and never knew what hit him. He was buried in the nearby town of Voi du Chatel. Acccording to a April 14, 1930 letter by Willard's aunt, Dr. Leenhouts, Willard's father, left his practice to go overseas to assist as a doctor in a Paris Base hospital immediately after learning of his son's death. Very sad reminder. From what I have been able to discern, Pvt. Leenouts is likely the last or among the very last Marines to die at Belleau Wood, we cannot of course forget that members of the 26th Division added further heartache and tragedy to the soils in and around Belleau Wood during much of July 1918. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devildog34 Posted December 9, 2010 Author Share #4 Posted December 9, 2010 Sorry I just realized I posted this in the edge weapons section, did not realize I was in that section when I posted it. It probably belongs in photographs and ephemera. I hope you enjoy nonetheless. Semper Fi, Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr-X Posted December 9, 2010 Share #5 Posted December 9, 2010 No problem Kevin, I've just moved it for you. :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Meatcan Posted December 9, 2010 Share #6 Posted December 9, 2010 great post! thanks for sharing that. A very somber reminder indeed. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted December 9, 2010 Share #7 Posted December 9, 2010 Kevin: Thank you for sharing your excellent research! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corpsmancollector Posted December 9, 2010 Share #8 Posted December 9, 2010 Thank you for posting Kevin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted December 9, 2010 Share #9 Posted December 9, 2010 Great research, Kevin! :thumbsup: Thanks for posting. Semper Fi......Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhunde.ret Posted December 9, 2010 Share #10 Posted December 9, 2010 Kevin, great reseech! Look forward to hearing more when you have files... s/f D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhund Posted December 10, 2010 Share #11 Posted December 10, 2010 Miles H DODGE ASN:117045 Enlisted April 15, 1917 18th Co KIA Willard G LEENHOUTS ASN:120536 Enl May 2nd 1917 HQ Co 5th Regiment KIA Teufelhund Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurt Barickman Posted December 10, 2010 Share #12 Posted December 10, 2010 As always, great research Kevin. :thumbsup: Any thoughts about publishing your Belleau Wood work for the masses? Kurt Barickman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mes Posted December 10, 2010 Share #13 Posted December 10, 2010 Kevin Outstanding work! I agree with Kurt you need to publish work and then we can start on Blanc Mount. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devildog34 Posted December 15, 2010 Author Share #14 Posted December 15, 2010 Slowly working on it, it is a very long arduous process especially with my schedule but it certainly is nice to hear such awesome words of encouragment! Many thanks. Semper Fi, Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pahiggins Posted January 20, 2011 Share #15 Posted January 20, 2011 Photos sent by Lt. Victor F. Bleasdale to Cpl. Frank W. Dunham (15th Co. 6th Machine Gun Battalion) USMC in Belleau Wood June 1918 "1st Sgt. Hunter carted to the grave Belleau Woods" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pahiggins Posted January 20, 2011 Share #16 Posted January 20, 2011 Photos sent by Lt. Victor F. Bleasdale to Cpl. Frank W. Dunham (15th Co. 6th Machine Gun Battalion) USMC in Belleau Wood June 1918 "The crack MG Sect of the world after 28 days in Belleau Woods" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pahiggins Posted January 20, 2011 Share #17 Posted January 20, 2011 Photos sent by Lt. Victor F. Bleasdale to Cpl. Frank W. Dunham (15th Co. 6th Machine Gun Battalion) USMC in Belleau Wood June 1918 "Bigelow Belleau Woods" (referring to Sgt. Irving F. Bigelow) Reverse of photo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pahiggins Posted January 20, 2011 Share #18 Posted January 20, 2011 Photos sent by Lt. Victor F. Bleasdale to Cpl. Frank W. Dunham (15th Co. 6th Machine Gun Battalion) USMC in Belleau Wood June 1918 Pvts Hagan Meyers + Duda reverse of photo Pvt. Edward Duda - Gassed June 3, 1918 Pvt. Harvey J. Hagan - Killed by enemy shell fire 6-22-1918 Pvt. Nicholas Meyer - not wounded or killed at Belleau Wood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pahiggins Posted January 20, 2011 Share #19 Posted January 20, 2011 Photos sent by Lt. Victor F. Bleasdale to Cpl. Frank W. Dunham (15th Co. 6th Machine Gun Battalion) USMC in Belleau Wood June 1918 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason4473 Posted January 20, 2011 Share #20 Posted January 20, 2011 Here is a memorial to him in Maine. He is buried in France at the Aisne-Marne cemetery Camden is 20 minutes from me where is the memorial? thanks Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pahiggins Posted January 21, 2011 Share #21 Posted January 21, 2011 Photos sent by Lt. Victor F. Bleasdale to Cpl. Frank W. Dunham (15th Co. 6th Machine Gun Battalion) USMC in Belleau Wood June 1918 reverse of photo Pvt. Russell D. Smith (on left) Cpl. Frank W. Dunham (on right) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popo367 Posted January 21, 2011 Share #22 Posted January 21, 2011 Amazing photos.......thank you so much for sharing. Semper Fi...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted January 21, 2011 Share #23 Posted January 21, 2011 Amazing photos.......thank you so much for sharing. Semper Fi...... DITTO That! Great pics. Thank you. Semper Fi....Bobgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMC A5 Sniper Rifle Posted January 26, 2011 Share #24 Posted January 26, 2011 Photos sent by Lt. Victor F. Bleasdale to Cpl. Frank W. Dunham (15th Co. 6th Machine Gun Battalion) USMC in Belleau Wood June 1918 "1st Sgt. Hunter carted to the grave Belleau Woods" pahiggins, Please post more pictures from this group. These are great pictures showing fresh views of a hallowed place to us old Marines. Semper Fi, Jim Tarleton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belleauwood Posted January 27, 2011 Share #25 Posted January 27, 2011 Kevin, Per usual - great post - Need to keep this one going. DJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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