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.