In 1918 a division of Marines was sent to Belleau Wood to support the French army. As the Marines arrived, the French troops were retreating. When a French officer suggested that the Marines join the retreat, Captain Lloyd Williams responded, "Retreat, hell! We just got here." The Marines eventually fought off more than four divisions of Germans, much of it hand to hand. One of the most famous quotations in Marine Corps lore came during the initial step-off for the battle when Gunnery Sergeant Dan Daly prompted his men forward with the words: "Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?"

Belleau Wood is where the Marines got their nickname "Teufel Hunden" meaning "Devil Dogs" in German, for the ferocity with which they attacked the German lines.

The Belleau Wood Chapter is located in northeastern PA (Lehigh Valley).