Marine Security Guard Battalion

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MSG Det Paris visits Belleau Wood
Sgt Bowling, MSG Det Paris
In 1921 Congress authorized the construction and retention of the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery. The government of France agreed to house one of the many American Battle monuments free of charge or taxation. A beautiful forty-two acre landscape is home to the fallen 2,289 American dead who bravely sacrificed their lives for freedom. In the middle of the gravestones stands an eighty-foot memorial chapel that was erected over the front line trenches. Just inside the memorial doors are the names of 1,060 missing troops.

Behind the memorial chapel are the two hundred acres of woods where the historic battle of Belleau Wood took place. As you stroll along the rocky paths of the woods, off to the left and right, scattered trenches, large shell holes and relics of the war can be seen. In the center of the woods, about a quarter mile from the actual cemetery, stands a monument erected by the U.S. Marines and a flagpole. The steel monument depicts a Marine attacking with his rifle and bayonet. At the bottom is a brief description of the battle in both English and French.

Every year around Memorial Day, Marines from all over the world gather at the cemetery to honor the fallen Marines. Traditionally, the Marines from Marine Security Guard Detachment Paris and the Marine Attaché conduct the planning and coordination of the events. The May 29, 2004 ceremony was no different. The Marine Attaché', LtCol William Holdorf, and the Detachment Commander of MSG Detachment Paris, GySgt Terry Weiser, conducted all of the planning and coordination for the huge event. The ceremonial music was provided by the 2 nd Marine Air Wing Band from Cherry Point, N.C., Marine Security Forces Company Europe from Rota, Spain provided the rifle platoon, and Marine Security Guard Detachment Paris provided the Color Guard. The Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, General William L. Nyland, was present as the guest of Honor.

The ceremony began with each Marine unit in formation facing the French units on opposite sides of the Iron Mike monument. Following the assembling of units, a bugle call was sounded to march Assistant Commandant, General Nyland, and the French Commander into their positions. After performing the traditional lying of the wreaths at the foot of the monument, taps was sounded to signify the conclusion of this portion of the ceremony.

The second half to the ceremony began with the marching on of the French units, followed by the Marines. After the special guests were introduced and seated, all the units in place, it began to rain heavily and a cool wind came out of nowhere. Because of the large turn out of approximately 1,500 Americans and French and the significance of the ceremony, the events continued as scheduled. This portion of the ceremony included a wreath lying, speeches by General Nyland and French special guests, and ceremonial music. The retiring of the Colors marked the conclusion of the memorial cerem...Full Story

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LtCol Holdorf, a member of the Defense Attaché Office, and Gunnery Sergeant Weiser, the detachment commander for MSG Detachment Paris, at the memorial to Americans killed in the battle of Belleau Wood.

Submitted by: Sergeant Christopher Bowling