THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FIFTH BRIGADE.
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.