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From The Battle of Somme:
In order to stop the German advance, the American Expeditionary Force had to counter-attack. Second Division was actually tasked with the job of taking the woods, so the Marine Regiments was sent forward.
In order to do so, they had to advance across an open field of wheat that was continuously swept with murderous German machine gun and artillery fire.
Retreating French soldiers told the Marines to turn back, that there was no hope. Even a French officer told them to retreat.
In reply, Marine Captain Lloyd Williams of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment simply said "Retreat, hell. We just got here."
Overall, the woods were taken by the Marines (and US Army Third Infantry) a total of six times before they could successfully expel the Germans. They fought off more than four Divisions of Germans,
oftentimes reduced to using only their bayonets or fists in hand-to-hand combat.
In order to rally his platoon of pinned-down Marines, Gunnery Sergeant Dan Daly uttered the now famous phrase "Come on, you sons of bitches. Do you want to live forever?"
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