THE FIFTH BRIGADE.
The units of the Fifth Brigade were never together as a brigade in France or at any time an element of a division, and for that reason its commanding general was assigned additional duty in the American Expeditionary Forces.
Brig. Gen. Eli K. Cole, the first commanding general of the Fifth Brigade, arrived in France on September 24, 1918, and proceeded to headquarters, Forty-first Division (First Depot Division), St. Aignan, France, reporting there October 1 to 4, 1918; on October 6, 1918, he joined the Second Division at Souain, France, as an observer and remained with the Second Division until October 26, 1918, when he left to report at St. Aignan. On October 28, 1918, Brig. Gen. Cole arrived at St. Aignan and assumed command of the Forty-first Division (First Depot Division). From December 27, 1918, to January 10, 1919, he commanded the First Replacement Depot. From January 12 to February 3, 1919, he commanded the American Embarkation Center at Le Mans, France. From February 23, 1919, to March 4, 1919, he commanded the Forwarding Camp at Le Mans, France. During the period March 5 to 21, 1919, Brig. Gen. Cole was occupied in inspecting the units of the Fifth Brigade. He left Tours, France, on March 31, arrived at Brest, France, same day, was detached from the American Expeditionary Forces on March 31, and sailed for the United States on the Mauretania, arriving at New York April 7, 1919.
Brig. Gen. Smedley D. Butler relieved Brig. Gen. Cole as commanding general of the brigade on April 9, 1919, and retained command until it was demobilized in August, 1919.
One of the most prominent and outstanding features of the American Expeditionary Forces was the administration of Pontanezen Camp at Brest, France, by Brig. Gen. Smedley D. Butler, United States Marine Corps, from October 6, 1918, to the latter part of July, 1919. The words of the citation conferring upon him the Army distinguished service medal describes in general terms the important work accomplished by Brig. Gen. Butler:
Smedley D. Butler, brigadier general, United States Marine Corps. For exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services. He has commanded with ability and energy Pontanezen Camp at Brest during the time in which it has developed into the largest embarkation camp in the world. Confronted with problems of extraordinary magnitude in supervising the reception, entertainment, and departure of the large numbers of officers and soldiers passing through this camp, he has solved all with conspicuous success, performing services of the highest character for the American Expeditionary Forces.
Brig. Gen. Butler returned to the United States in command of the Fifth Brigade, on the Siboney, arriving at Hampton Roads, Va., on August 8, 1919.
Maj. William C. Wise was brigade adjutant from the date the brigade was organized to September 25, 1918; Maj. Charles D. Barrett relieved Maj. Wise and acted as adjutant until he went to the Fourth Brigade to relieve Lieut. Col. Ellis; Maj. Calvin B. Matthews was brigade adjutant from July 11, 1919, to the date the brigade was demobilized.
THE ELEVENTH REGIMENT.
Col. George Van Orden commanded the Eleventh Regiment during its entire existence.
The Eleventh Regiment was split up, its several units being spread all over France. Units of this regiment performed duty at various times at the following places: Brest, Tours, Montierchaume (Indre), Havre, Gievres (Loire-et-Cher), Marseilles, Toulon (B-du-Rhone), Miramas (B-du-Rhone), Issoudun (Indre), La Pallice, La Rochelle (Charante Inferieur), Mehun (Cher), St. Aignan-Noyers, Romorantin (Loire-et-Cher), Marans, Nevers, Aigrefeuille, Barmant, Somme, Chateauroux (Indre), Camp Covington (Camp Carret) near Marseilles, Paris (Headquarters Detachment, American Peace Commission).
The officers and men performed duties of various kinds, among such being: Post commanders, post and assistant post adjutants, personnel adjutants, regulating officers, assistant to the depot engineer, receiving officers, entertainment officers, assistant post chaplain, police officers, prison officers, camp guards, dock guards, commanding officers of troops, police sergeants, inspectors of the guard, district fire marshals, post welfare officers, district athletic officers, assistant provost marshals, fire patrol officers, fire marshals, transportation guard service, guard duty over prisoners, quartermaster property guard, interpreters, etc.
THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT.
Col. Smedley D. Butler commanded the Thirteenth Regiment from the date of its organization until November 19, 1918, on which date Lieut. Col. Douglas C. McDougal assumed command and remained its commanding officer until it was demobilized.
Like the Eleventh Regiment, the units of this regiment performed duty in the various posts in the Services of Supply, among such places being Brest, Bordeaux, St. Nazaire, La Rochelle, La Pallice, Rochefort, Montoir, Bassens (Gironde), Sursol (Gironde), Casino-de-Lilas (Bordeaux), La Teste (Gironde), Beau Desert (Gironde), Nantes, St. Sulpice (Gironde), Savenay, St. Loubes (Gironde), Lormont, Carbon Blanc, Grange Neuve, Genicart, Croix d’Hins, La Baule, Isle of Ste. Anne (Nantes), Pen Houet, Usine Brulee.
The officers and men performed duties of various kinds, among such being provost guard, hospital center guard, camp guard, railroad transportation officers, commanding dock guard, dock guard, unloading ships, erecting tents at Pontanezen Barracks, military police, warehouse guards, convoying of railroad trains, special guards for shipments of commissary supplies, assistants to camp commander at Pontanezen Camp, prison guards, assisting thousands of convalescent and sick soldiers who disembarked from the Leviathan to get to Camp Pontanezen, inspector general’s department, base section No. 1, stockade guard, traffic police, motor transportation convoy guard, dock guard secret service, segregation camp, and railway patrol.
THE FIFTH BRIGADE MACHINE GUN BATTALION.
Maj. Ernest A. Perkins commanded the Fifth Brigade Machine Gun Battalion from the date of its organization until November 4, 1918; Capt. Franklin A. Hart from that date until November 12, 1918; and from November 12, 1918, to date of demobilization Maj. Allen H. Turnage was the commanding officer.
This battalion performed duty at Camp Pontanezen during its entire stay in France.
Chapter XVIII.
CASUALTIES.
During the period of the World War the Marine Corps personnel suffered casualties in actual battle in France with the American Expeditionary Forces (Second Division and Aviation); in Aviation while operating as part of the naval service in France; and in the West Indies in operations against the bandits of Santo Domingo.