the war to the Allies favor. In what Pershing called a "Brilliantly executed operation" Lewis led his brigade in capturing the important town of Vaux on July 1. To celebrate the victories of the 2nd and 3rd Infantry Divisions, including the Marine Brigade serving under them in nearby Belleau Wood, a monument was raised just above the town of Chateau Thierry. The American Battlefield Commission Monument shines upon that hill today. In early July 1918 he was promoted to major general, and was assigned to command the 30th Infantry Division. The 30th and the 27th Division served under British Command as part of the bargain Pershing struck with General Haig and Marshall Foch, forming the II American Corps under General Read. "Old Hickory" fought with the First, Second, Third and Fourth British Armies, lastly serving under General Rawlinson. As part of the Fourth British Army, they broke through the Hindenburg Line on September 29, 1918, at Bellicourt in the Battle of St. Quentin Canal winning the praise of General Pershing "... the 30th Division did especially well. It broke through the Hindenburg Line on its entire front and took Bellicourt and part of Nauroy by noon of the 29th.". Still attached to the 4th, the 30th continued to attack while engaged in some of the most bitter fighting in the war. They pushed the Germans back seven miles to the Selle River by 11 October, then crossed it and captured Molain and St.-Martin-Riviere on the 17th. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, Commander of the British Expeditionary Force sent this letter to General Read, Commanding the II American Corps: "I wish to express to you personally and to all the officers and men serving under you my warm appreciation of the very valuable and gallant services rendered by you throughout the recent operations with the Fourth British Army. Called upon to attack positions of great strength, held by a determined enemy, all ranks of the 27th and 30th American Divisions under your command displayed an energy, courage, and determination in attack which proved irresistible. It does not need me to tell you that in the heavy fighting of the past three weeks you have earned the lasting esteem and admiration of your British Comrades-in-Arms, whose success you so nobly shared" General Pershing visited the 30th Infantry Division on 21 January 1919 for an inspection, and sent the following letter to General