The St. Mihiel American Cemetery and Memorial is located at the west edge of Thiaucourt ( Meurthe-et-Moselle), France. The cemetery contains the graves of 4,153 American military dead from

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. The majority of these died in the

Battle of Saint-Mihiel The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was a major World War I battle fought from 12–15 September 1918, involving the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) and 110,000 French troops under the command of General John J. Pershing of the United States against ...

, an offensive that resulted in the reduction of the St. Mihiel salient that threatened

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...

. The American Battle Monuments Commission administers the cemetery.

Cemetery design

In the late 1920s, the architect

Thomas Harlan Ellett Thomas Harlan Ellett (September 2, 1880 – November 24, 1951) was an architect who practiced in New York City. Early life and education Harlan Ellett, as he was known in his youth, was born in 1880 and grew up in Sherman Township, Iowa, the ...

, in collaboration with the sculptor

Paul Manship Paul Howard Manship (December 24, 1885 – January 28, 1966) was an American sculptor. He consistently created mythological pieces in a classical style, and was a major force in the Art Deco movement. He is well known for his large public com ...

, designed the architectural features of the cemetery, including a memorial peristyle with fluted Doric columns, and flanking it, a chapel and a museum. The project was approved by the National Commission of Fine Arts by 1930, and completed in 1934.''Snyder County Tribune'', November 1, 1934, p. 3. The burial area is divided into four equal quadrants by paths lined with linden trees, at the center of which is a large sundial surmounted by an American eagle. A statue of a World War I soldier, sculpted by

, stands at the end of the western axis, while a semi-circular overlook with a sculpted victory vase marks the end of the eastern axis.

Memorial, chapel and museum

A large rose-granite urn sits at the center of the white marble peristyle, embellished with sculpted drapery and a winged horse symbolizing the flight of the immortal soul to the afterlife. Inside the museum, an inlaid marble map created by the mosaic artist Barry Faulkner depicts the

St. Mihiel offensive The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was a major World War I battle fought from 12–15 September 1918, involving the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) and 110,000 French Army in World War I, French troops under the command of General (United States), Ge ...

. The surrounding walls are inscribed with the names of 284 missing soldiers, with rosettes to mark the names of those whose remains were later recovered and identified. The chapel's floor is inlaid with green marble, and its coffered ceiling decorated with gilt Napoleonic bees. Above an ivory-tinted altar, a mosaic depicts St. Michael the Archangel, sheathing his sword, flanked by a pair of doves of peace holding olive twigs. Mosaic shields display the colors of the United States and France.

Notable burials

* 2 Lieut. John Hunter Wickersham (1890–1918), recipient of the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...

for action in the St. Mihiel offensive

Gallery

File:St Mihiel American Cemetery Site Plan.jpg, Site Plan of Saint Mihiel American Cemetery, Thiaucourt, France, completed 1934. File:St Mihiel American Cemetery Entrance Gate.jpg, Entrance Gate to the Saint Mihiel American Cemetery, Thiaucourt, France, completed 1934. File:St mihiel american cemetery peristyle.jpg, Peristyle at the Saint Mihiel American Cemetery, Thiaucourt, France, completed 1934.

References

External links

St. Mihiel American Cemetery
American Battle Monuments Commission
American Battle Monuments Commission – St. Miliel American Cemetery and Memorial
at the Internet Archive (archived May 17, 2008) * {{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Mihiel American Cemetery And Memorial Buildings and structures in Meurthe-et-Moselle World War I memorials in France World War I cemeteries in France American Battle Monuments Commission Cemeteries in Grand Est