categories, notably heavy caliber ammunition, faced a foe well supplied with food and shells behind his
steel and concrete fortification and under orders from his "Fuehrer" to live or die for the Fatherland.
The bridging of the swollen Moselle River under the bellowing guns of the great Metz forts was
an engineering feat of the first magnitude, while the sweeping encirclement of the huge forts and their
systematic reduction was a triumph of tactics on the part of the XX Corps.
Successful completion of the campaign had its aftermath of ceremonies and formations. This was a great
climax to the years of preparation by XX Corps. The liberation of the historic city of Metz brought further honors
to the Corps which already carried the famed battle streamers of Verdun, Chateau-Thierry, and the Marne.
On the 29th of November, the French Government bestowed high tribute on General Walker when he was
made a member of the Legion of Honor, Officer Class, at a great civic ceremony staged in Metz.
At the same time, General Collier and Brigadier General Julius C. Slack, XX Court Artillery Commander,
received the Legion of Honor, Knight Class.
Major General Andre Dody, Military Governor of Metz, made the awards in the Place de Republique
were thousands of people had gathered to witness the proceedings and cheer the parading troops of France and the
United States. These were the first American troops to be so honored by the French Government.
Massed standards and banners of XX Corps divisions and regiments headed the big parade and review
which was taken by General Walker. French and American military bands provided the music, and the rumble of
artillery fire in the distance provided additional sound effects.
Front line troops of XX Corps who participated in the capture of Metz were heartily applauded by the
populace. French Regular Army troops who took part in the parade made a fine showing.
After the general officers had received their decorations, the award of the Croix de Guerre with Palm was
made to Colonel Charles G. Meehan, Captain David W. Allard, Sgt. S. Bornstein, Captain Guy de la Vasselais,
Lt. Col. J. W. Libcke, and Col. H. R. Snyder received the Croix de Guerre with Gold Star, Lt. Jacques Desgranges
was given the Croix de Guerre with Silver Star, and the same decoration with Bronze Star went to Tech. Sgt.
Donald Post, T/4 Denver Grigsby and T/4 H. J. Schonhoff.
The demonstration at Metz took place a week after General Walker officially turned the city over to the
French, following its capture by infantry and armored divisions in two weeks of hard and bloody fighting. Hailed
by the press of Metz as the "Conqueror of Metz", General Walker was warmly received by the people of the
liberated city.
At a formation held the next day at Corps Headquarters, General Collier made further awards to officers
and men of the XX Corps.
The Croix de Guerre with Palm went to Colonels R. John West, Henry M. Zeller, Joseph Shelton, Chester
A. Carlsten, and William B. Leitch. Receiving the Croix de Guerre with Gold Star were Colonel William H.
Green, Lt. Col. Melville I. Stark, Lt. Col. Joseph Cowhey, Lt. Col. Napoleon A. Racicot, M/Sgt. John Taylor, and
M/Sgt. Van K. Barre. The Croix de Guerre with Bronze Star was given to First Sgt. Alexander Berg, Tech Sgt.
Roy S. Hahn, and press T/4 Clarence La Pierre.
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