US Marine in World War I

Published to coincide with the 100th anniversary of America's entry into World War I, this history of American Marines during World War I highlights the bravery and sacrifice of the Marine Corps whose stubborn determination was immortalized in the words 'Retreat? Hell, we just got here.'

The words 'Retreat? Hell, we just got here' has become a central part of the legend of the US Marine Corps, indicative of its reputation for dogged determination and bravery. The iconic words were uttered at the height of the fierce battle for Bellau Wood and became a defining moment for the Corps, establishing their 'first to fight' ethos in the public eye.

This history follows the experiences of the Marines during the Great War, from their training in the US and France through the fighting in the trenches and battlefields of the Western Front and right up to their occupation duties in the Rhineland. Packed with first-hand accounts and detailed information from the USMC History Division at Quantico and published to coincide with the 100th anniversary of America's involvement in World War I, this is a timely analysis of one of the US Marine Corps' finest hours.