Fabrice Maiolino, French deputy consul general for southwestern United States, speaks to Marines, Sailors and guests during a ceremony for 5th Marine Regiment at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 22, 2014. Maiolino was the guest of honor for the ceremony, when the regiment presented the prestigious French Fourragère, a green braided cord worn on the left shoulder of the military uniform, to new Marines in the unit. The French people have always remembered the great sacrifices of the U.S. Service members who fought in Europe as allies, said Maiolino. The 5th Marine Regiment is authorized to wear the fourragère by the French government after demonstrating valor in combat in at least three battles during World War I for which the regiment was awarded the Croix de Guerre. The regiment is the most decorated infantry regiment in the Marine Corps and one of the most battle-tested units in the armed services, having fought in fierce battles during World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. Currently, the regiment provides combat-ready ground forces for deployment worldwide and on U.S. Navy ships in the Pacific and southwest Asia as part of Marine Expeditionary Units. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer / released)