Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1919-04-18
Highest French
Honor For 32nd
General Mansin. Presents the
Crosses and StreamerS.


Guerre with palm has been pinned 10
the colors of the four infantry regi-
ments and three machine gun batta-
lions of the 32nd division, by General
Mangin. This is the highest honor yet
paid to any American division by the
entente.
On the breasts of scores OF officers
and enlisted men the General also
pinned the cross of war, which they
had by individual acts of bravery won.
In all, 500 Michigan and Wisconsin
soldiers, former national guardsmen,
were awarded this honor, but only go
were present to accept them when the
review was held near Dierdorf.
Battle StreamerS on COlOrS.
Twenty-four Distinguished Service
crosses were bestowed by Maj. Gen.
Joseph T. Dickman.
The major general tied the ''flammes
de guerre" or battle streamers to the
colors of each regiment or machine gun
battalion. These streamers bore the
names OF the divisions big engage
ments, Alsace, Aisne-Marne, Oise-
Aisue, and the Meuse-Argonne, which
name appears twice.
General Mangin's Citation.
The 32nd division is grouped as two
infantry brigades and the division ma
chine gun battalions in General Man
gins citation, which reads:
"The Gath infantry brigade-a mag
nificent brigade to which the French
soldiers, fighting at its side, rendered
the most beautiful homage by calling it
Brigade des Terribles.
at is composed of the 127th and the
l28th regiments and the l2lst machine
gun battalion.
1T took in brilliant and irresistible
attack the village of Juvigny Aug. 80,
1918, and pursued its advance Aug. 81,
and Sept. dominating the enemy con-
stan tly, in spite of heavy losses, and
sustaining without faltering the most
violent enemy counter attacks, and
fighting for three days without stop
ping, without rest, and almost without
food.
Glory for the l25th
"The 63rd infantry brigade is COM
posed of the 125th and the l26th in
fantry regiments and the 120th machine
gun battalion. 1t has acquired the most
splendid tile to glory in the battles of
Aug % in the vicinity of Juvigny.
Scarcely having entered the lines it
dashed forward to assault. The enemy
was surprised and became demoralized
by the rapidity and vigor of the attack.
"The brigade proved its superiority
in the fierce hand to hand struggle,
where the 125th and 126th regiments
and the 120th machine gun battalion
emerged the victors. The brigade drove
back the beaten enemy as far as the ap-
proach to Etny-Sorny, while efficacious-
ly supporting the neighboring French
troops during the attack from Aug. 81
TO Sept. 1.
Praise for Machine Gun Men
"The 10th machine gun battalion for
four days fought with energy, skill and
endurance. Although tried by the
enemy fire, it moved continually for
ward. sending its fire directly and re-
morselessly upon the adversary, shat
tering his counter attacks, and inflict-
ing upon the enemy deadly damage.
1t contributed nightly in taking Ju-
vigny, and holding the conquered
ground"
The records show that the 32nd serv-
ed under the Tenth army on the Oise-
Aisne front last August, and that serv-
ice was referred to directly by General
Mangin in his speech Of presentation.