The Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery () is a

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

cemetery in

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. It is located east of the village of

Romagne-sous-Montfaucon Romagne-sous-Montfaucon (, literally ''Romagne under Montfaucon'') is a commune in the Meuse department in Grand Est in north-eastern France. The Commune is home to the Romagne '14-'18 museum of WWI artifacts Nearby is the American Battle Mo ...

Meuse The Meuse or Maas is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea from the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta. It has a total length of . History From 1301, the upper ...

. The cemetery contains the largest number of American military dead in Europe (14,246), most of whom lost their lives during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and were buried there. The cemetery consists of eight sections behind a large central reflection pool. Beyond the grave sections is a chapel which is decorated with stained glass windows depicting American units' insignias. Along the walls of the chapel area are the tablets of the

missing Missing or The Missing may refer to: Film * ''Missing'' (1918 film), an American silent drama directed by James Young * ''Missing'' (1982 film), an American historical drama directed by Costa-Gavras about the 1973 coup in Chile *, a Belgian film ...

which include the names of those soldiers who fought in the region and in northern Russia, but have no known grave. It also includes the Meuse-Argonne American Memorial. This cemetery is maintained by the

American Battle Monuments Commission The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) is an Independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the United States government that administers, operates, and maintains permanent U.S. military cemeteries, memoria ...

. It is open daily to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The cemetery is closed January 1 and December 25, but is open on all other holidays.

Notable burials

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...

recipients ** Second Lieutenant Erwin R. Bleckley (1894–1918), for service near Binarville, France ** Captain Marcellus H. Chiles (1895–1918), for action near Le Champy Bas, France ** Sergeant Matej Kocak (1882–1918), two-time recipient (Army and Navy medals) ** Second Lieutenant Frank Luke Jr. (1897–1918), the "Arizona Balloon Buster" and first airman to receive the medal of honor;

Luke Air Force Base Luke Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States., effective 20 December 2007 It is located west of the central business district of Glendale, Arizona, Glendale, and west of Phoenix, Arizona, P ...

is named after him ** Major Oscar F. Miller (1882–1918), for his leadership in the Argonne ** Corporal

Harold W. Roberts Harold William Roberts (October 14, 1895 – October 6, 1918) was a United States Army corporal and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in World War I. Roberts, a tank driver, was m ...

(1895–1918), for action in the Montrebeau Woods ** Sergeant William Sawelson (1895–1918), for action at Grandpré, Ardennes ** Lieutenant Colonel Fred E. Smith (1873–1918), for action near Binarville, France ** Corporal Freddie Stowers (1896–1918), for action in the Ardennes (medal awarded in 1991) * Other notables ** Sergeant Victor E. Chapman (1890–1916), first American aviator to die in battle in the war ** Captain Edward L. Grant (1883–1918), pre-war professional baseball player

Gallery

Image:Meusecemetery2.jpg, Aerial view of cemetery. Image:Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery 081710.JPG, Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. File:Romagne-sous-Montfaucon - unknown Jewish soldier.jpg, Grave of an unknown Jewish American combatant in the cemetery Image:Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery Chapel 081710.JPG, Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery Chapel. Image:Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery 6.jpg, Grave of Medal of Honor recipient

References

External links

Official *
American Battle Monuments Commission (archived)
General information
Meuse-Argonne.wmv – Windows Media Video

Cemetery booklet (no pictures)

Cemetery booklet (with pictures)
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery 1918 establishments in France Buildings and structures completed in 1918 Aftermath of World War I in France American Battle Monuments Commission Buildings and structures in Meuse (department) Cemeteries in Grand Est Military history of Meuse (department) Museums in Meuse (department) Neoclassical architecture in France Protected areas of France Tourist attractions in Meuse (department) World War I cemeteries in France Meuse–Argonne offensive Funerary and memory sites of the First World War (Western Front)

Notable burials

Gallery

See also

References

Further reading

External links