The Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery (french: Cimetière Américain (Meuse-Argonne), links=no) is a

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 ...

cemetery in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

. It is located east of the village of Romagne-sous-Montfaucon in

Meuse The Meuse ( , , , ; wa, Moûze ) or Maas ( , ; li, Maos or ) 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 t ...

. 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 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 agency of the United States government that administers, operates, and maintains permanent U.S. military cemeteries, memorials and monuments primarily outside the United States. ...

. 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 military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valo ...

recipients ** Second Lieutenant Erwin R. Bleckley (1894–1918), for service near

Binarville Binarville () is a commune of the Marne department in northeastern France. Population See also *Communes of the Marne department The following is a list of the 613 communes in the French department of Marne. The communes cooperate in t ...

, France ** Captain Marcellus H. Chiles (1895–1918), for action near Le Champy Bas, France ** Sergeant

Matej Kocak Matej Kocak (December 3, 1882 – October 4, 1918), a United States Marine Corps sergeant, was posthumously awarded both the Army and Navy Medals of Honor, for "heroism above and beyond the call of duty" in action against the enemy on July 18, 191 ...

(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, and west of Phoenix. Luke AFB is a major traini ...

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 Grandpré () is a commune in the Ardennes department in northern France. On 1 January 2016, the former commune Termes was merged into Grandpré.

** 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 Aftermath of World War I in France American Battle Monuments Commission Buildings and structures in Meuse (department) Cemeteries in Grand Est History of Grand Est Museums in Meuse (department) Neoclassical architecture in France Protected areas of France Tourist attractions in Meuse (department) World War I cemeteries in France

Notable burials

Gallery

See also

References

Further reading

External links