Other Machine Gun Companies
of the 4th Brigade
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GROUP PHOTOGRAPH OF 8th MACHINE GUN COMPANY, 5th REGIMENT MARINES, DATZEROTH, GERMANY, APRIL 1919
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A more interesting shot than many of the Marine Corps company photographs to come out of
Germany in the Spring of 1919, as this photo conveys some sense of the surrounding
community, with a view of village buildings and small corral, and a local family looking
on from a back porch. The Marines are wearing tunics and overseas caps with web belts,
a few holsters, first aid packs and ammo pouches. Officers are wearing Sam Browne belts.
A number of horses and mules are visible in the back row. This company, as part of the
5th Regiment [which at that time was attached to the 1st Division, A.E.F.], was part of
the first contingent of American soldiers to arrive in France in the summer of 1917.
In January of 1918, the 5th Marines joined the 6th Marines and 6th Machine Gun Battalion
in the Bourmont training area to form the 4th Brigade of Marines. Together with the
3rd Brigade, U.S.A, and other supporting units, they became part of the 2nd Division,
A.E.F. For a brief period, upon its arrival in France, the 8th M.G. Company was commanded
by Captain Holland M. ("Howling Mad") Smith, USMC who, in a later war, would command the
assaults on Tarawa, Saipan and Iwo Jima.
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Machine Gun Platoon of 96th Co., 6th Regiment
Quantico, November
1917.
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Special thanks to Therry Schwartz
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