WeRead Powered by ReaderPub
The United States Marine Corps in the World War cover

The United States Marine Corps in the World War

Chapter 77: COMPOSITE REGIMENT, THIRD ARMY.
By Edwin North McClellan
Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

History - AmericanHistory - Modern (1750+)History - Warfare

About This Book

A concise official history recounts the expansion, organization, and activities of the Marine Corps during the World War, combining personnel statistics with descriptions of recruiting, training, unit formation, deployments, and departmental administration. It outlines combat operations by Marine brigades and regiments on the Western Front, summaries of major engagements and citations awarded by allied commands, casualty and decoration statistics, and support roles including naval detachments, aviation, and reserve forces. The work also addresses logistical, paymaster, and quartermaster functions, the return and demobilization of forces, and provides tables and footnoted data to document strength, movements, and outcomes.

Chapter XXIII.

RETURN OF MARINES FROM EUROPE—PARADES IN THE UNITED STATES.

RETURN OF SECOND DIVISION AND FOURTH BRIGADE.

A great many Marines were returned from Europe gradually and in small detachments from the date the armistice became operative.

The commanding general of the Second Division and his staff, headquarters of the Fourth Brigade, the Fifth Regiment, and the Second Battalion of the Sixth Regiment arrived in the United States on board the George Washington on August 3, 1919; the remainder of the Sixth Regiment arrived in the United States early in August, 1919, on board the Rinjdam and the Wilhelmina; the Sixth Machine Gun Battalion arrived in the United States on board the Santa Paula on August 5, 1919.

RETURN OF THE FIFTH BRIGADE.

The Fifth Brigade Headquarters, the Thirteenth Regiment (less Company B), and the Fifth Brigade Machine Gun Battalion arrived in the United States on board the Siboney on August 8, 1919. Company B of the Thirteenth Regiment arrived on the Mercury on August 12, 1919. The Eleventh Regiment arrived in the United States on board the Orizaba on August 9, 1919.

All the above Marine organizations and individuals were returned to the naval service soon after arrival in the United States.

COMPOSITE REGIMENT, THIRD ARMY.

The company of Marines and battalion commander (major) and staff, forming a part of the Composite Regiment, Third Army, returned to the United States on board the Leviathan on September 8, 1919, and were returned to the naval service in September, 1919.

The colonel commanding the Composite Regiment in a letter dated September 21, 1919, commended the battalion commander and staff, the commanding officer of the company, and “the lieutenants for their loyalty and attention to details, and noncommissioned officers and men for their soldierly appearance, high standard of morale, and discipline,” concluding with these words:

The Composite Regiment paraded as escort to the general of the Army, in London, Paris, New York, and Washington, D. C. The regiment has been favorably commended. This is entirely due to the loyalty, energy, and attention to duty of the officers and individual soldiers in the regiment; and in this the Marine Corps representatives deserve a large share.

SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN BATTALION.

With the return of the above Marine organizations, all Marines of the American Expeditionary Forces were out of Europe with the exception of a few individuals, and the Fifteenth Separate Battalion, consisting of 26 officers and about 700 enlisted men, which was retained for duty in France for possible operations in connection with the Schleswig-Holstein plebiscite.

This battalion, under command of Maj. Charles F. B. Price, was organized at Pontanezen Camp, Brest, in July, 1919, from personnel of the Fourth and Fifth Brigades and the Twelfth Separate Battalion. The battalion designation was changed on August 15 from “Provisional Battalion, U. S. Marines,” to the “Fifteenth Separate Battalion.”

The Battalion rendered honors to Gen. Pershing on September 1, 1919, upon his departure from France at Brest and on the same day was inspected by Marshal Foch, who commended the Battalion on its splendid appearance.

Leaving Brest on the Mercury, September 3, 1919, the Battalion six days later arrived at Bordeaux to take part in the ceremony of laying a foundation for a monument commemorating the entrance of the United States into the World War, at Pointe de Grave, near Bordeaux, France. It then returned to Brest and in December went on board the Henderson, then at that port. The Henderson, with the Battalion on board, sailed from Brest, arriving at Philadelphia on December 23, 1919, after a 16-day trip. On December 30, 1919, the battalion arrived at Quantico, Va.

RETURN OF AVIATION UNITS.

Information regarding the return of Marine Corps aviation units from Europe will be found in chapter XXI.

PARADES IN THE UNITED STATES.

On August 8, 1919, the Fourth Brigade, as a part of the Second Division, paraded in New York City. Maj. Gen. John A. Lejeune, with many Marine officers on his staff, was in command.

On August 8, 1919, the Fourth Brigade of Marines was transferred to the naval service upon its arrival at Quantico, Va.

On August 12, 1919, the Fourth Brigade of Marines, then a part of the naval service, was reviewed by the President of the United States in a parade at Washington, D. C. Brig. Gen. Wendell C. Neville was in command.

A company of Marines and a battalion commander, as a part of the Third Army Composite Regiment, paraded in New York and in Washington, D. C., as escort to Gen. Pershing. The First Division also formed a part of these parades.