; Whereas, during World War I, the United States Navy increased in strength from approximately 69,000 officers and sailors and 342 vessels to more than 533,000 officers and sailors and 774 vessels; Whereas the Navy operated in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and the North and Mediterranean Seas in cooperation with allied navies; Whereas the Navy began the fight against the German U-boat menace by dispatching destroyers, which eventually totaled 70 in number, and 169 other vessels to counter the submarine threat; Whereas Navy vessels escorted troop transports carrying 1,250,000 passengers and escorted supply transports carrying 27 percent of all cargo shipped to Europe; Whereas the Navy deployed five batteries of large-caliber battleship guns mounted on railroad trains to France for service as long-range artillery for the Army; Whereas the United States Coast Guard transferred to the operational control of the Navy, and augmented that service with approximately 5,000 officers and sailors, 47 vessels of all types, and 279 shore stations; Whereas the United States Marine Corps, with an eventual wartime strength of 75,000 officers and men, detached two regiments and a machine gun battalion to constitute an infantry brigade integrated into the Army’s 2d Division for service in France; Whereas, on July 4, 1917, Colonel Charles E. Stanton, one of the officers on the staff of General John Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe, famously announced America’s commitment to the fight when Colonel Stanton proclaimed upon his arrival in France, Lafayette, we are here! ; Whereas the American Expeditionary Forces formed three field armies, nine corps and forty-three divisions, plus various units of the Services of Supply; Whereas the American Expeditionary Forces suffered 244,000 casualties in fighting in thirteen named campaigns in World War I