Part :1 The Battle of Belleau Wood is often referred to as the "birth of the modern Marine Corps." This battle was undoubtedly one of the most critical engagements of WWI for American forces, but its importance has been somewhat embellished over time. After completing this week's readings (focusing on the articles by Alexander and Zabecki), please provide an analysis of the battle and its significance. In your response, you must address the following:

Summarize the tactical and strategic situation facing the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) prior to the engagement.
Give a brief overview of the course of the battle.
Address the outcome of the battle and its ultimate impact on the AEF.
Indicate which article you feel is more accurate in describing the outcome of the battle and why.

· Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required material(s) and/or other scholarly sources, and properly cite any references.
 

Part :2 Lt. Samuel Woodfill was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions, which are described in the Lengel article, during the Battle of the Meuse-Argonne.

Woodfill's award was only one of more than 50 such honors bestowed upon American troops for their actions during the battle that raged for nearly two months.

The Meuse-Argonne engagement has been considered one of the most important in American military history: not for these individual heroics, but rather due to its ultimate outcome on both military and political fronts. For this week's discussion, please answer the following questions:

Why was this engagement significant from a military standpoint for the American Expeditionary Force (AEF)?

What was the political importance of this battle for the United States, and why?

How did this conflict compare, in scale and decisiveness, to the Battle of Belleau Wood?

Which of the two battles were most important to the AEF? Why?

Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required material(s) and/or other scholarly sources, and properly cite any references.