Compass Points – Lore of the Corps
Felix de Weldon’s two Marine Memorials
Compass Points extends best wishes to one and all for a very happy holiday season. Over the coming weeks, Compass Points will be putting the spotlight on several crucial issues for the Marine Corps, including aviation, logistics, education, ethos of the Corps, Ukraine and more. All these issues need much more discussion. Compass Points will share some special holiday posts for the next few days. Regular posts will return on 27 December. Today, we pause to recall Felix de Weldon’s two Marine Memorials.
The great Marine Memorial in Arlington, Virginia depicting the flag raising on Iwo Jima was sculpted by Felix de Weldon. The Marine Memorial was completed and dedicated on 10 November 1954. Every Marine and friend of the Corps knows about the flag raising on Iwo Jima, Joe Rosenthal’s famous photograph, and Weldon’s iconic Marine Memorial. What is less well known is that only one year after the Marine Memorial in Arlington was dedicated, Felix de Weldon on 18 November 1955 dedicated a different Marine sculpture named, The Marine Memorial.
Most people, even most Marines, have never heard of Felix de Weldon’s second Marine Memorial. The reason is the second Marine Memorial is not in the United States. Felix de Weldon created a black marble monolith with a bronze relief of a fighting Marine. The sculpture has a commemorative plaque with a Marine EGA. Weldon’s second Marine Memorial still stands today in France at the site of the battle of Belleau Wood. It is the only sculpture in Europe that only honors U.S. Marines.
The World War I battle of Belleau Wood took place June 1918. The Marines fought and won against a numerically superior German invasion force. U.S. forces bore more than 10,000 casualties. The ferocious valor of the Marines at Belleau has become a part of the lore of the Corps. While some scholars have their doubts, it has been said the Germans called the Marines “Devil Dogs.” And Marines wear the name proudly today.
Another part of the lore of Belleau is an incident said to have taken place during a particularly desperate part of the fighting. Three Marines were under fire, a Sgt and two PFC’s. One PFC had been patrolling a few yards ahead of the other two, he was suddenly ambushed and badly wounded by small arms fire. Alone and bleeding, the wounded Marine called out to his friend.
The other PFC and the Sgt were laying face down. As soon as his friend called out, the other PFC started to get up, to go to his aid. But the Sgt pulled him back down, “No. Wait. We have to see what’s out there.”
The forest was silent. No more firing. No more calls from the wounded PFC.
Finally the Sgt said, “I think he bought it.”
The PFC jumped up and ran to his friend, picked him up, put him over his shoulder and carried him back under a hail of bullets. The PFC took a round in his leg and they both tumbled to the ground by the Sgt. The Sgt checked both Marines, “Are you crazy? Now you’re wounded and he’s dead. All for nothing.”
The PFC said, “It was worth it.”
“Worth it?” How?”
The PFC looked at the Sgt and said, “When I got out there, he was still alive. He saw me and said, ‘I knew you would come.’’
During this Christmas season, may God bless Devil Dogs everywhere, and also Felix de Weldon for his two Marine Memorials.
NO MORE ....SIR or MAAM...................................WHO SOMES UP W/THIS HORSE SHIT?
Our Marine Corps, like our Country, is going through a tough time. May God help our Corps and Country.