The United States Marine Corps in the World War

258 Pages·2014·1.996 MB·English

by  Edwin N. McClellan

U.S. Marines in World War I Centennial Commemorative Series
THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
in the
WORLD
WAR
Major Edwin N. McClellan, USMC
First edition published 1920
Second edition 1968
Historical Branch, G-3 Division
Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps
Washington, DC 20380
Updated and revised third edition 2014
U.S. Marine Corps
History Division
Quantico, VA 22134
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
McClellan, Edwin North, 1881-1971.
The United States Marine Corps in the World War / by Major Edwin N. McClellan, USMC. --
Updated and revised 3rd edition.
pages cm. -- (U.S. Marines in World War I centennial commemorative series ; No. 1)
“First edition published 1920.”
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. United States. Marine Corps--History--World War, 1914-1918. 2. World War,
1914-1918--United States. I. Title.
D570.45.A5 2014
940.4’5973--dc23
2014042905
This pamphlet history, one in a series devoted to U.S. Marines in the First World War, is published for
the education and training of Marines by the History Division, Marine Corps University, Quantico,
Virginia, as part of the Marine Corps’ observance of the centennial anniversary of that war. Editorial
costs have been defrayed in part by contributions from members of the Marine Corps Heritage
Foundation.
No. 1 in the U.S. Marines in World War I Centennial Commemorative Series
Dr. Charles P. Neimeyer
Director of Marine Corps History
Charles D. Melson
Chief Historian of the Marine Corps
Angela J. Anderson
Series Editor/U.S. Marines in World War I Centennial Commemorative Series
Vincent J. Martinez
Graphic Designer
This printing represents the original work, with minor alterations to the text based on
current standards for style, grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Any other revisions to
the original text were made based on new statistics available since the time of the 1968
edition.

CONTENTS
1968 FOREWORD .........................................................................xi
2014 FOREWORD .......................................................................xiii
EXPLANATORY NOTE ..............................................................xx
LETTER OF TRANSMISSION ..................................................xxi
CHAPTER I .....................................................................................1
In General
CHAPTER II ...................................................................................4
Statutory and Actual Strength
of the Marine Corps on Various Dates
CHAPTER III ..................................................................................8
Recruiting
Applicants, Rejections, Enlistments
Enlistments by State
CHAPTER IV ................................................................................13
Geographical Location and Disposition
of Marines During War
CHAPTER V .................................................................................20
How Officers Were Obtained and Trained
CHAPTER VI ................................................................................26
Training Enlisted Men
in the United States and Europe
CHAPTER VII ..............................................................................33
Organizations and Replacements
Sent to Europe
Organization of the 4th and 5th Brigades
CHAPTER VIII .............................................................................48
Operations in General
CHAPTER IX ................................................................................53
Units Composing, and the Commanding
Generals of, the 2d Division-Verdun Operations
CHAPTER X .................................................................................59
Aisne Defensive, Hill 142, Bouresches,
and Bois de la Brigade de Marine in the
Château-Thierry Sector
CHAPTER XI ................................................................................70
The Aisne-Marne Offensive (Soissons)
CHAPTER XII ..............................................................................77
Marbache Sector, Near Pont-à-Mousson
Saint-Mihiel Offensive
CHAPTER XIII .............................................................................79
The Champagne
Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge
Capture of Saint-Étienne
March To Leffincourt
CHAPTER XIV .............................................................................87
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive
Crossing the Meuse River
CHAPTER XV ...............................................................................93
March To the Rhine
Army of Occupation
Summary of Operations of the 4th Brigade
CHAPTER XVI ...........................................................................100
With the Navy Onboard the Battleships
and Cruisers
CHAPTER XVII ..........................................................................105
The Activities of the 5th Brigade
CHAPTER XVIII ........................................................................112
Casualties
CHAPTER XIX ...........................................................................117
Citations of Marine Organizations
Days in France
Artillery Captured
Prisoners Captured
Kilometers Advanced
Decorations Awarded
CHAPTER XX .............................................................................120
Rifle Practice
Rifle and Pistol Competitions
CHAPTER XXI ...........................................................................123
Aviation
CHAPTER XXII ..........................................................................132
Marine Corps Reserve
CHAPTER XXIII ........................................................................135
Return of Marines from Europe
Parades in the United States
CHAPTER XXIV .........................................................................138
Demobilization
CHAPTER XXV ..........................................................................143
Office of the Major General Commandant
Adjutant and Inspector’s Department
CHAPTER XXVI .........................................................................145
Paymaster’s Department
CHAPTER XXVII .......................................................................154
Quartermaster’s Department
APPENDIX I ................................................................................159
Marine Corps Deaths
APPENDIX II ..............................................................................160
Biographies of Selected
Marine Corps Leaders
INDEX ..........................................................................................215