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The Croix de Guerre (Cross of War) is a military decoration of France.
It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on
two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The
decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts. The Croix de guerre was also commonly bestowed on foreign military forces allied to France.
The Croix de guerre may either be awarded as an individual or unit
award to those soldiers who distinguish themselves by acts of heroism
involving combat with the enemy. The medal is awarded to those who have
been "mentioned in dispatches",
meaning a heroic deed or deeds were performed meriting a citation from
an individual's headquarters unit. The unit award of the Croix de guerre
with palm was issued to military units whose members performed heroic
deeds in combat and were subsequently recognized by headquarters. In the United States military,
the Croix de guerre was accepted as a foreign decoration. It remains
one of the more difficult foreign awards to verify entitlement. The
Croix de guerre unit and individual award were often presented with
original orders only and rarely entered into a permanent service record.
The 1973 National Archives Fire
destroyed most of the World War II personnel records which are needed
to verify a veteran's entitlement to the Croix de guerre award. However,
foreign unit award entitlements can be checked and verified through
official unit history records. Veterans must provide proof of service in
the unit cited at the time of action in order to be entitled to the
award. Individual foreign awards can be checked through foreign
government (France) military records.
Regarding the United States in WWI, on April 10, 12, and 13, 1918,
the lines being held by the troops of the 104th Infantry Regiment, of
the 26th "Yankee" Division, in Bois Brûlé, near Apremont in the
Ardennes, were heavily bombarded and attacked by the Germans. At first
the Germans secured a foothold in some advanced trenches which were not
strongly held but, thereafter, sturdy counterattacks by the 104th
Infantry - at the point of the bayonet - succeeded in driving the enemy
out with serious losses, entirely re-establishing the American line. For
its gallantry the 104th Infantry was cited in a general order of the
French 32nd Army Corps on April 26, 1918. In an impressive ceremony
occurring in a field near Boucq on April 28, 1918, the 104th Infantry's
regimental flag was decorated with the Croix de Guerre by French General
Fenelon F.G. Passaga. “I am proud to decorate the flag of a regiment
which has shown such fortitude and courage,” he said. “I am proud to
decorate the flag of a nation which has come to aid in the fight for
liberty.” Thus, the 104th Infantry became the very first American unit
to be honored by a foreign country for exceptional bravery in combat. In
addition, 117 members of the 104th Infantry received the award,
including its commander, Colonel George H. Shelton.
In World War II, the 320th Bombardment Group
received the Croix de Guerre avec Palme for action in preparation for
and in support of Allied offensive operations in central Italy,
April–June 1944. It was the first American unit in this war to be
awarded the citation.
Members of the 440th AAA AW Battalion (Anti-Aircraft Artillery -
Automatic Weapons) of the U.S. Army also received the Croix de Guerre
avec Palme (unit award) for stopping the German Ardennes
counter-offensive in holding the town of Gouvy, Belgium for 4 1⁄2 days at the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge
on December 16, 1944. Gouvy is midway between St. Vith and Bastogne.
Commanding Officer of the 440th, Lt. Col. Robert O. Stone, and Pfc.
Joseph P. Regis, also received an individual award of the Croix de
Guerre avec Palme. On June 21, 1945, French General De Gaulle presented
the following citation to the 34th United States Infantry Division: "A 'division d’elite', whose loyal and efficient cooperation with French divisions, begun in TUNISIA, was gloriously continued throughout the Italian campaign, in particular during the operations of BELVEDERE
when the 34th Division, despite the difficulties of the moment,
displayed most courageous efforts in support of the operations of the
3rd Algerian Division. This citation bears with it the award of Croix de
Guerre with Palm." Soldiers of the US Army 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment
"Geronimos" were awarded the Croix de Guerre with Silver Star, For
Service in the Southern France campaign. The 509th Unit colors bear the
Streamer embroidered "MUY EN PROVENCE".]
On March 30, 1951, the President of the French Republic, Vincent Auriol, pinned not only the Croix de Guerre with Palm but also the Legion of Honour on the flag of the Brigade of Midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy
in recognition of historic contributions of the Naval Academy,
particularly the contributions of alumni to victory in World War II. The
flag of the Brigade of Midshipmen does not display streamers for either
award, nor do Midshipmen wear the fourragère, despite apparent
entitlement to do both.
Today, members of several US Army and Marine Corps units that
received the fourragère for combat service during World Wars I and/or II
are authorized to wear the award while assigned to the unit. Upon
transfer from the unit the individual is no longer authorized to wear
the fourragère. Wearing of the decoration is considered ceremonial only
and it is not entered as an official military individual or unit award
in the service member’s permanent service records. Units currently
authorized to wear the French Fourragère are:
- US Army
- 2d Infantry Division “Indianhead” – For service during WW I with the I Corps, US First Army, American Expeditionary Forces (AEF)
- 3d Infantry Division
“Marne Division” – For service during WW I with the III Corps, US First
Army, AEF & in WW II with VI Corps, US Seventh Army, Sixth US Army
Group, AEF
- 4th Cavalry Regiment “Raiders” – For service during WW II as the 4th Cavalry Group (Mechanized) VII Corps, US First Army, Twelfth US Army Group, AEF
- 28th Infantry Regiment
“Lions of Cantigny” – For service during WW I in the 2d Infantry
Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, I Corps, US First Army, AEF (Regiment
deactivated as of 9 April 2015)
- 369th Infantry Regiment
“Harlem Hellfighters” – For service during WW I in the French 16th and
161st Divisions (Regiment reorganized and re-designated as of 20 July
2007 as the 369th Sustainment Brigade, 53d Troop Command, New York Army National Guard)
106th Cavalry Regiment - For service during WW II - 121st CRS:
Fourragère; 121st CRS: French Croix de guerre with Palm; 106th Group:
French Croix de guerre with Palm
- US Marine Corps
- 5th Marine Regiment "The Fighting Fifth"
- 6th Marine Regiment "The Fighting Sixth"
- 6th Machine Gun Battalion (Deactivated 13 August 1919)
- Note: Only members of the above named USMC units, including attached
Navy personnel, are authorized to wear the French Fourragère for their
unit's service during WW I as the 4th Marine Brigade, of the US Army 2d
Infantry Division, I Corps, US First Army, AEF:
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