USS BELLEAU WOOD

• Two Ships Named USS Belleau Wood: The name "USS Belleau Wood" has been assigned to two U.S. Navy ships: CVL-24 (an Independence-class light aircraft carrier, 1943–1953) and LHA-3 (a Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship, 1978–2006). • Named After a Legendary WWI Battle: Both ships are named in honor of the Battle of Belleau Wood (1918), where U.S. Marines earned fame for their tenacity and courage in France during World War I. • CVL-24's World War II Service: The first USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) participated in major Pacific campaigns, including the Marianas, the Philippines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa, earning 12 battle stars. • Kamikaze Attack: On 30 October 1944, Belleau Wood (CVL-24) was hit by a kamikaze plane, resulting in 92 dead or missing, but the carrier continued on with repairs and returned to action. • Postwar French Service: After WWII, CVL-24 was transferred to France in 1953 under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program and served as the French aircraft carrier Bois Belleau. • LHA-3’s Humanitarian Missions: The second USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3) was involved in multiple humanitarian missions, including Operation Sea Angel (Bangladesh, 1991) and support after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. • Operation Desert Storm: LHA-3 played a key role in Operation Desert Storm (1991), serving as a platform for Marine assaults and helicopter operations in the Persian Gulf. • Rescue of Vietnamese Boat People: In the late 1970s and 1980s, Belleau Wood (LHA-3) rescued hundreds of Vietnamese refugees fleeing after the Vietnam War, providing lifesaving aid at sea. • Decommissioning and Sinking: LHA-3 was decommissioned in 2005 and sunk as a target during Exercise RIMPAC 2006, continuing to serve in naval training even after active service. • "Retreat? Hell!": The ship's motto, "Retreat? Hell!", commemorates the famous phrase attributed to Marine Captain Lloyd W. Williams at Belleau Wood in 1918, epitomizing Marine Corps resolve and spirit.