Another N of Lucy-le-Bocage

When the panorama loads, the view will be facing north.
Belleau Wood is the nearest wood seen to the right and front. You are directly over the line from which the first attack against it was launched by the 2nd Division.
During the last days of May 1918, a powerful German offensive had broken through the Chemin des Dames front and German troops were advancing rapidly toward the Marne River.
The Allied situation was critical and reserves from all parts of the Western Front were promptly rushed to this region. Among the troops hurriedly moved here was the American 2nd Division, which included one brigade of Marines.
Arriving on June 1, it was assigned a battle position with its center near this point.
All available men immediately began digging trenches and otherwise preparing for defense, the Germans at the time being delayed by French detachments in positions on the near slopes of the line of hills seen in the distance approximately 2 miles away to the right front. 
The front line organized by the division ran around the wood seen on top of the hill about 600 yards to the left front, included this point, and continued on to the right rear passing around the buildings of Triangle Farm, seen on the hillside a mile away in that direction.

Small advance groups of the enemy came in contact with that section of the American line near Triangle Farm on June 2nd, and during the next day a determined assault against the left of the 2nd Division position was repulsed with heavy losses.
On June 4th the entire front line of the division was engaged and on that day the advance of the German forces in this region was definitely stopped.
The German High Command, upon hearing of the presence of American troops on this important battle front, directed that they be denied any success whatsoever and that as much damage as possible be inflicted upon them.
Consequently, as the Americans were determined to regain certain strong points which the Germans had captured, the fighting near here was very bitter and the casualties on both sides were out of all proportion to the amount of ground which finally changed hands.
During the morning of June 6th, the first of the many 2nd Division attacks in this vicinity was launched from its line on the far side of the wood to the left front.
This attack, made in conjunction with the French, resulted in a gain of about a mile.
That afternoon a powerful assault against Belleau Wood was made from here and succeeded in obtaining a foothold in that part of the wood seen to the right. 
Severe fighting took place in the southern part of Belleau Wood on June 7th and 8th, but all efforts to advance resulted in only minor gains.
The wood was abandoned on the 9th to permit the artillery to concentrate its fire on the German positions there without endangering American troops, and on the 10th a determined attack was launched against the wood from the line to the right of here.
This regained the positions previously held but in spite of every effort the troops were unable to progress farther.
Consequently, on June 11th another attack against the entire wood was launched from near here in the direction of the your right front.
To get closer to the action and learn more about that attack, follow this link to another panorama.