JOHN CALLAHAN - MARINE!
By Andy Weddington
Saturday, 18 July 2026
Come on, you sons of bitches! Do you want to live forever. - Gunnery Sergeant Daniel Daly, USMC (recorded as shouting on 06 June 1918 leading his Marines through heavy machine gun fire at Belleau Wood)
John James Callahan, Jr., an 18 years old rifleman from Troy, New York, was mortally wounded by German machine gun fire while frontally assaulting through a Belleau Wood wheat field.
Belleau Wood, for those unfamiliar, is revered in the annuls of U. S. Marine Corps history.
The fighting fierce and brutal and up close and personal including close combat and hand-to-hand fighting.
World War I.
It was Tuesday, 11 June 1918.
John died hours after being shot.
Combat operations continued another two weeks.
The Americans (French and British) prevailed.
The Americans suffered just under 9,800 casualties including slightly more than 1,800 killed.
Of course I've read much about Belleau Wood.
But John unknown to me until a few months ago.
A friend, a retired Marine, told me of his kin's story.
For some years, decades actually, he and his brother have been researching John's life and service.
Their aim to true service records, family records, and secure John's life in a book - preserving for future generations of family, and just anyone interested in the nitty gritty of combat.
From Troy to Belleau Wood - The Life and Sacrifice of Marine John Callahan is now available.
https://www.amazon.com/Troy-Belleau-Wood-Alfred-Karam-ebook/dp/B0H886GHYC
In full disclosure, a draft was shared with me several months ago - as asked if I'd consider writing the Foreword.
I found John's story not just interesting but compelling.
He was young. He knew he was going to war. And he died, honorably, on duty. Courage.
And oddly enough, John (5th Marines) and I (6th Marines) share a distinction, stemming from that fight at Belleau Wood, but two regiments (5th and 6th) in the U. S. Marine Corps are authorized for wear on the Service and Dress uniforms.
Forty-five years after first wearing, the French fourragere takes on new meaning to me.
So, honored to write the Foreword. And, as objectively as possible, recommend the Karam brothers terrific book.
Semper Fidelis.
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1 comment:
Colonel,
Thank you for your generous words, and for the tremendous honor of writing the Foreword to From Troy to Belleau Wood. Your endorsement means a great deal to both my brother, James, and me.
You understand better than most that Belleau Wood was far more than a battle. It was a defining moment in Marine Corps history, one forged through extraordinary courage, sacrifice, and unwavering determination. Having worn the French fourragere yourself, your reflection on its meaning carries a weight that few can fully appreciate.
Our hope from the very beginning was simple, to ensure that Private John James Callahan Jr. would not be forgotten. He was an 18 year old Marine from Troy, New York, who answered his nation’s call and gave everything he had. Like so many others, his story deserved to be told with accuracy, respect, and dignity.
Thank you for helping bring John’s story to a wider audience, and for your steadfast support throughout this journey. It has been an honor to work with you.
Semper Fidelis.
Alfred A. Karam
Coauthor, From Troy to Belleau Wood
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