5 . ▁For ▁the ▁remainder ▁of ▁the ▁year , ▁Gro ff ▁was ▁tempor arily ▁assigned ▁to ▁the ▁ 2 nd ▁Battalion , ▁ 2 nd ▁Marine ▁Regiment ▁for ▁g arrison ▁and ▁occupation ▁duty ▁in ▁the ▁city . ▁ ▁Gro ff , ▁then ▁a ▁Corpor al , ▁returned ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁in ▁early ▁ 1 9 1 6 , ▁where ▁he ▁became ▁a ▁pl ank owner ▁on ▁the ▁USS ▁Oklahoma ▁( BB - 3 7 ). ▁ ▁World ▁War ▁I ▁ ▁At ▁the ▁out break ▁of ▁World ▁War ▁I , ▁Gro ff ' s ▁experience ▁in ▁the ▁Ban ana ▁Wars ▁led ▁to ▁his ▁rapid ▁promotion ▁from ▁Corpor al ▁to ▁Serge ant ▁and ▁then ▁G unn ery ▁Serge ant . ▁ ▁He ▁sa iled ▁for ▁France ▁as ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁ 8 3 rd ▁Company , ▁ 6 th ▁Marine ▁Regiment , ▁which ▁was ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 nd ▁Division , ▁American ▁Ex ped ition ary ▁Force . ▁ ▁Gro ff ▁was ▁wounded ▁in ▁action ▁( min or ▁gun shot ) ▁and ▁was ▁c ited ▁for ▁gall antry ▁on ▁multiple ▁occasions ▁during ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Belle au ▁Wood ▁in ▁June ▁ 1 9 1 8 . ▁ ▁For ▁his ▁actions , ▁he ▁was ▁awarded ▁the ▁Navy ▁Cross , ▁Dist ingu ished ▁Service ▁Cross , ▁and ▁Silver ▁Star ▁c itation . ▁ ▁As ▁the ▁result ▁of ▁his ▁hero ics , ▁Gro ff ▁also ▁received ▁a ▁battle field ▁promotion ▁to ▁ 2 nd ▁Lieutenant ▁in ▁July ▁ 1 9 1 8 . ▁ ▁After