French Fourragere

The Fourragere is a French military award. It was instituted by Napoleon, but actually has prior historic significance. After a hasty retreat from battle by a unit of Flemish troops, the Duke of Alva ordered that any further misconduct in that unit be punished by hanging, regardless of rank. Those Flemish troops then wore a cord tied into a hangman's noose on their shoulder going into their next battle, and fought so valiantly that the cord became a mark of distinction. During World War I, the French Ministry of War awarded the Fourragere to units which distinguished themselves more than once in the orders of the army. There are three classes of fourragere. The three classes of the Fourragere are as follows: First -- Legion d'Honneur - Scarlet; Second -- Medaille Militare - Yellow and Red; Third -- Croix de Guerre (with palm) - Green and Red. During WWI, the 5th and 6th regiments of the United States Marine Corps were awarded the Fourragere for having earned the Croix de Guerre with palm leaf twice. These units also earned a third croix de guerre with gilt star, but contrary to what USMC Drill Instructors mistakenly teach their recruits, the third Croix de Guerre is not relevant the those units' right to wear the fourragere.