Over one hundred photos accompany the text which offers an account of the month long engagement that captures the spirit of the Leathernecks in desperate battle. The U.S. Marines, fresh into battle, made six bloody sweeps into the meadows within Belleau Wood. Facing massed German machine guns, the carnage was terrible, but when the French suggested they retreat, one of the regiment's officers replied, "Retreat, hell. We just got here."

Stay they did and the German offensive that threatened to overwhelm the British and French forces was stymied and Paris was saved.