PFC US MARINE CORPS WORLD WAR I. Cecil Ireland served in the Second Battalion, 6th Regiment, 97th Company that became known as the famed "Devil Dogs." The nickname "Teufel Hunden"—"Devil Dogs" in English—was presumably bestowed upon the Marines by German soldiers at the Battle of Belleau Wood in June 1918. However, on April 14, 1918, six weeks before the battle began, hundreds of U.S. newspapers ran a fanciful wire service report that stated "the Teutons have handed the sea soldiers [a nickname] . . . They call the American scrappers 'teufel hunden,' which in English means 'devil dogs.'" Journalist H. L. Mencken wrote in 1921 that the term was the invention of an American war correspondent. Robert V. Aquilina of the United States Marine Corps History Division has stated that while there is no evidence of German use of the term, it has nevertheless become entrenched in Marine Corps lore. (see Devil Dog- Wikipedia)

In 1918, Marines of the Fifth and Sixth Regiments, by their heroic deeds of valor, inscribed the names of momentous and brilliant battles on the pages of Marine Corps history, as well as on their own regimental battle colors. They have the single honor of being the only two regiments in the American Expeditionary Force to receive three citations--two in the Orders of the Army and one in the Orders of the Corps--the Fourragere and the Croix de Guerre with two Palms and one Gilt Star. As a member of Second Battalion, Sixth Marines, soldiers are authorized to wear the Fourragere as a part of their uniform. Marines originally earned this award as an individual decoration through their heroism, bloodshed, and ultimate sacrifice on the fields of Belleau Wood, Soissons, and Champagne. Since World War I, Marines and Sailors of 2d Battalion, 6th Marines have worn the Fourragere as a unit decoration carrying it into battle at Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Okinawa and many other battles, which are listed in the website article, "Battalion History." (see https://www.6thmarines.marines.mil/units/2nd-battalion/history/fourragere/)