The French Army recognized the splendid work of the Fifth and Sixth Regiments of Marines by citing them three times in Army orders for achievements in the Chateau-Thierry sector, the Aisne-Marne, and the Meuse-Argonne (Champagne). The Sixth Machine Gun Battalion was similarly cited for its work in the Chateau-Thierry sector and the Aisne-Marne, and the Fourth Brigade for its work in the Chateau-Thierry sector.
Information was received in January, 1920, that the War Department had accepted the award of the French fourragère in the colors of the ribbon of the Croix de Guerre for several Army organizations and the three units of the Fourth Brigade.
Prior to this date the only American organizations which had received permission to accept or wear the French fourragère were three sections of the ambulance service and one aero squadron, all of which were temporary organizations and have now been demobilized.
A Marine Corps unit arrived in France with the first expedition of American troops. From June 26, 1917, to November 11, 1918, Marines were in Europe with the American Expeditionary Forces a total of 504 days, of which 66 days were in active sectors and 71 in quiet sectors.
The commanding general, Second Division, under date of December 30, 1918, reported to General Headquarters, American Expeditionary Forces, the following data with reference to artillery and machine guns captured:
| Sector. | Heavy artillery. |
Light artillery. |
Trench mortars. |
Machine guns. |
Antitank guns. |
| Verdun | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. |
| Chateau-Thierry | .. | [5] | 12 | 119 | .. |
| Soissons | 9 | 66 | 2 | 200 | .. |
| Marbache sector | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. |
| St. Mihiel | 60 | 61 | .. | 122 | .. |
| Blanc Mont | 5 | 37 | 27 | 409 | 8 |
| Meuse-Argonne | .. | [6]105 | 17 | 500 | .. |
| Total | 74 | 269 | 58 | 1,350 | 8 |
[5] A small number of light artillery was captured, but no count made.
[6] On account of the rapid advance, for a total of about 29 kilometers, during which time these guns, in position and along the roads, were overrun and left behind, it was impossible to make an accurate check of them, and therefore the figures report guns both heavy and light. They were taken from reports of subordinate commanders made at the time. Rifles were not counted.
The Second Division captured 12,026 prisoners, which is 19.07 per cent of the total prisoners captured by the entire American Expeditionary Forces.
The Second Division advanced 60 kilometers against the enemy.
The following number of decorations were awarded Marines during the war:
| Medals of honor (Army) | 5 |
| Distinguished-service medals (Army) | 8 |
| Distinguished-service crosses (Army) | 363 |
| Distinguished-service order (British) | 1 |
| Croix de guerre (French) | 1,237 |
| Legion of honor (French) | 19 |
| Medaille militaire (French) | 10 |
| Belgian decorations | 10 |
| Chinese decorations | 1 |
| Italian decorations | 9 |
| Montenegrin decorations | 4 |
| Portuguese decorations | 1 |
| Total | 1,668 |
The above number of Distinguished-service crosses (Army) awarded includes 42 awarded to Navy Medical Corps personnel, 2 to Y. M. C. A. personnel, and 2 to French officers serving with Marines.
The above number of Croix de guerre (French) awarded includes 82 awarded to Navy Medical Corps and Navy Dental Corps personnel, and 3 to Navy Chaplains serving with Marines.
One Navy Chaplain was awarded a Legion of Honor (French), but this is not included in the above.