Legion vice commander Ron Jones and Legion Auxiliary representative Marilyn Hight.

CLINTON — The Clinton American Legion Post carries as part of its name, Crang-Bennett, the last names of two DeWitt County young men who died while serving their country.

This year is particularly important for the Crang-Bennett American Legion Post.  On June 8, 1918, Artie Bennett died in the early part of the Battle of Belleau Woods, France, while serving with the U.S. Marine Corps.  He was the second DeWitt County service man to die overseas as part of The Great War, known today as World War I.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the final year of that war and of the armistice that ended it.  Members of the Clinton American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary met briefly this past week in Memorial Park Cemetery to honor Bennett.

In a war in which tens of thousands of casualties in a single engagement was common, Bennett died in a battle that ultimately resulted in 9,777 casualties, including 3,615 U.S. Marines.  A total of 1,811 died in the battle, all but about 700 of them Marines.

The loss to the Marines 5th and 6th regiments was staggering.  The two regiments comprised 6,000 men.  The battle cost them 60 percent casualties and nearly 18 percent killed.

Forty-three percent of the Marine Corps’ deaths in the war and 38 percent of its casualties occurred during the 26-day battle.

     The Battle of Belleau Wood was part of Germany’s spring offensive in 1918 and involved U.S., British and French forces against various German units.  The battle became an important part of U.S. Marine Corps history.

Major Gen. George Barnett contacted Bennett’s family upon confirmation of their son’s death

“Deeply regret to inform you that Private Artie Bennett, U.S. Marines, was officially reported killed in action June 6 or 8.  The remains will be interred abroad until the end of the war.  Accept my heart-felt sympathy in your great loss.  Your son nobly gave his life in the service of his country.”

In 2017, Clinton American Legion and Auxiliary marked the 100th anniversary of the death of Welby Crang

Aero Squadron member Sgt. Welby Crang died of pneumonia in France while awaiting deployment.  In fact, even with the enormous death toll in WWI, a war in which 100,000 troops or more were routinely killed or wounded in a single campaign, more died from the worldwide influenza epidemic than in battle.

A third local soldier, and the second from the area to die during that period, was Otto Finch, U.S. Army.  Finch died of pneumonia while at the Jefferson Barracks Military Post, St. Louis.

Once known as Armistice Day, Veterans Day, observed in November of each year, recognizes the sacrifices of American military personnel during that war and all wars involving the U.S.