Soissons

Many cathedrals like Reims and Soissons were destroyed in the First World War at the borders with Germany and Belgium, where the major battles happened.

On July 19, the 6th Marine Regiment, including Foster’s 3rd Battalion, was again sent across open fields to attack heavy German fortifications at the French city of Soissons.

In July, there were more Allied gains in fighting near Soissons.

Promoted to sergeant six months later, Kocak led a group of Marines through heavy woods on the first day of the Battle of Soissons, July 18, 1918.

This week in Soissons, a somnolent provincial town far from the gaudy cast-of-thousands extravaganzas of the campaign, Ms. Le Pen was greeted by a few dozen somber National Front activists in a drab meeting hall.