On November 17, 1918, the Second Division commenced its march to the Rhine, passing through Belgium and Luxembourg. The German frontier was reached November 25, 1918, crossed on December 1, 1918, the Rhine reached December 10, 1918, and crossed on December 13, 1918. During this march and up to the time the Fourth Brigade settled down to its occupation duty in Germany, brigade headquarters were successively established at Margut, Bellefontaine, Arlon, Usseldange, Berg, Eppeldorf, Neuerburgh, Waxweiler, Prum, Budesheim, Wiesbaum, Antweiler, Neuenahr, Burgbrohl, Rheinbrohl, and Hönningen.
The duties of the Fourth Brigade with the Army of Occupation in Germany were uneventful, the outstanding features being the establishment of a Rhine River patrol, manned and commanded by Marines; an extended visit, inspection, and review by the Secretary of the Navy; and the operation of the Second Division, including the Marines, made about the middle of June, 1919, in which an advanced position was taken as a part of the concentration of the Third Army immediately preceding the signing of the treaty of peace by the Germans.
Headquarters of the Fourth Brigade during the greater part of the occupation of Germany was at Nieder Bieber, while during the last operation when the advanced position was taken, just prior to Germany signing the peace treaty, it was at Herschbach. On the date the treaty was signed the Fifth Regiment, with headquarters at Hatenfels, occupied the most advanced position ever occupied by Marines in Germany.
Just before departing from Germany headquarters was at Nieder Bieber, and with the exception of Brest, France, this was the last headquarters the brigade had in Europe.
Maj. Charles D. Barrett relieved Lieut. Col. Earl H. Ellis as brigade adjutant in April, 1919, and held that position until the brigade was demobilized. Lieut. Col. Ellis was assigned to duty as second in command of the Fifth Regiment. On March 12, 1919, Col. Logan Feland was temporarily appointed brigadier general to rank from March 9, 1919, and accepted appointment and executed oath on March 17, 1919. On March 21, 1919, Col. Harold C. Snyder assumed command of the Fifth Regiment, relieving Brig. Gen. Logan Feland, who, after acting as aide for the Secretary of the Navy, arrived in the United States on the Von Steuben on May 13, 1919.
Just before the Second Division left Germany the commanding general of the Army of Occupation expressed his appreciation of the services of that division in a letter dated July 2, 1919, which is published in General Orders, Second Division, No. 68, July 5, 1919:
As your magnificent division is about to leave his command, it is with a sense of gratitude for its splendid achievments while in the American Expeditionary Forces that the army commander expresses to you, and to your gallant officers and men his appreciation of your services.
After occupying a defensive sector between Verdun and St. Mihiel, you were placed in the line of battle and met, with stubborn resistance, the onslaughts of the enemy’s hordes near Chateau-Thierry. Your action at Belleau Woods and your attack upon and capture of Vaux must ever remain brilliant exploits in our military history.
At Soissons, side by side with a veteran French division, you proved to our Allies the fighting value of the Army of the United States, and at St. Mihiel, in the first great American offensive, your prowess in attack was irresistible.
When in October, 1918, the Allied High Command desired to reinforce the French Army by American troops of great offensive worth, by real “shock troops,” you were loaned to Gen. Gouraud’s Fourth French Army and delivered your famous assault on Blanc Mont Ridge, releasing from German menace the historic city of Rheims.
In the closing phase of the Meuse-Argonne operations, certainly no troops contributed more to the enemy’s destruction than your division. After taking Landres-et-St. Georges, Bayonville-et-Chennery, and the Bois-de-la-Folie, you pierced the Bois-de-Belval, and by skillful night fighting and marching you cleared the enemy from the left bank of the Meuse and forced a crossing of the river.
Your brilliant exploits in battle are paralleled by the splendid example of soldierly bearing and discipline set by your officers and men while a part of the Army of Occupation. That spirit and dash which carried your men through the enemy’s defenses still predominated when the Army was recently concentrated, preparatory to a further advance into unoccupied Germany.
Officers and soldiers of the Second Division, your achievments and sacrifices have earned for you and for your fallen comrades the praise and gratitude of our Nation.
A summary of the operations of the Fourth Brigade of Marines is set forth below:
The Fourth Brigade of Marines as a unit of the Second Division participated in actual battle in France in the following sectors between the inclusive dates set down (as published in General Orders No. 37, Second Division, April 25, 1919):
Toulon sector, Verdun: From March 15 to May 13, 1918.
Aisne defensive, in the Chateau-Thierry sector: From May 31 to June 5, 1918.
Chateau-Thierry sector (capture of Hill 142, Bouresches, Belleau Wood): From June 6 to July 9, 1918.
Aisne-Marne (Soissons) offensive: From July 18 to July 19, 1918.
Marbache sector, near Pont-a-Mousson on the Moselle River: From August 9 to August 16, 1918.
St. Mihiel offensive, in the vicinity of Thiaucourt, Xammes, and Jaulny: From September 12 to September 16, 1918.
Meuse-Argonne (Champagne) including the capture of Blanc Mont Ridge and St. Etienne: From October 1 to October 10, 1918.
Meuse-Argonne (including crossing of the Meuse River): From November 1 to November 11, 1918.
Under the rulings of General Headquarters, American Expeditionary Forces, the Marine Corps units serving with the Second Division are entitled to silver bands on the staffs of their colors for battle participation in the above-mentioned engagements.
General Headquarters, American Expeditionary Forces, ruled that the Second Division, including the Fourth Brigade of Marines, participated in only four major operations, the Aisne defensive (May 31 to June 5, 1918); the Aisne-Marne offensive (July 18 and 19, 1918); the St. Mihiel offensive (Sept. 12 to 16, 1918); and the Meuse-Argonne offensive (Oct. 1 to 10; 1918, and Nov. 1 to 10, 1918). The operations which resulted in the capture of Blanc Mont and St. Etienne were construed to be included in the Meuse-Argonne offensive despite the fact that the operations were a part of the operations of the Fourth French Army, far to the west of the western limit of the American Meuse-Argonne sector and further that the work of the Second Division was continued by another American division. The operation which resulted in the capture of Hill 142, Bouresches, Bois de la Brigade de Marine, by the Marine brigade, assisted by Artillery, Engineers, etc., of the Second Division, and the capture of Vaux by the Third Brigade, Engineers and Artillery of the Second Division, were held to be local engagements rather than a major operation. The Second Division suffered about 9,000 casualties in the Chateau-Thierry sector.
In addition to the above major operations, Marine Corps personnel, other than that of the Fourth Brigade and Second Division, participated in the Champagne-Marne defensive, the Oise-Aisne offensive, and the Ypres-Lys offensive.