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American Military Remains and Memory Diplomacy in France, 1918-1972

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American Military Remains and Memory Diplomacy in France, 1918-1972 Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports 2015 Remains in Peace: American Military Remains and Memory Diplomacy in France, 1918-1972 Richard A. Hulver Follow this and additional works at: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd Recommended Citation Hulver, Richard A., "Remains in Peace: American Military Remains and Memory Diplomacy in France, 1918-1972" (2015). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 5837. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/5837 This Dissertation is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by the The Research Repository @ WVU with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Dissertation in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you must obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Dissertation has been accepted for inclusion in WVU Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports collection by an authorized administrator of The Research Repository @ WVU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Remains in Peace: American Military Remains and Memory Diplomacy in France, 1918-1972 Richard A. Hulver Dissertation submitted to the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History James Siekmeier, Ph.D., Co-Chair Joshua Arthurs, Ph.D., Co-Chair Melissa Bingmann, PhD. Jason Phillips, Ph.D. Kurt Piehler, Ph.D. Department of History Morgantown, West Virginia 2015 Keywords: American Battle Monuments Commission, War Remains, World War I, World War II, Collective Memory, 20th Century Franco- American Relations, Anti-Americanism, Graves Registration Service, Memory Diplomacy, American Military Cemeteries Copyright 2015 Richard A. Hulver ABSTRACT Remains in Peace: American Military Remains and Memory Diplomacy in France, 1918-1972 Richard A. Hulver Although often not viewed as such, a nation’s collective memory has use in international relations. The United States left some one-hundred thousand military remains interred in European soil following World War I and World War II, the majority of these in France. Instead of resting in a symbolic void, the memory of American military dead abroad became a means for the living to articulate contemporary foreign policy goals. Elements of the American war memory abroad remained consistent through the twentieth century: sacrifice for a free Europe, fear of radicalized revolutions, and Franco-American friendship. Yet, beneath the formulaic memory lingered evolving motives for remembering. The memory also reflected both American and French domestic politics. Memories of military remains became safe ground for Americans and French to engage with each other in times of peace and conflict. Thus, analysis of the evolving memory assigned to American military bodies abroad helps inform broader diplomatic strategies. In the absence of U.S. military abroad following WWI, the United States strategically chose locations to leave a military presence abroad through war remains. The bodies signified a commitment to Western Europe and the similar ideals of the American and French Revolutions. Following WWII, the memory of aspiring power was replaced by a memory of real power. Through the Cold War, the tone of America’s war memories in France changed as French perceptions of U.S. power altered. In memory of Allen Barb, Lisle Hulver, Donald Hulver, Robert Hulver, Carroll Himelright, and J.R. McInerney. Each of you provided support and inspiration for this project in your own way. You all are greatly missed. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The many demands of a doctoral program often brought emotional lows, stress, and feelings of isolation. The positives far outweighed these negatives. This process brought many joys and helped me appreciate how fortunate I am to have the love and support of so many. Providing thanks to everyone who contributed to this long endeavor would be impossible. For anyone who may read this, please know that no favor, thought, or gesture went unnoticed. As the topic of this dissertation suggests, I must first show my appreciation for the sacrifices of the past generations commemorated in ABMC sites abroad. Thank you to the ABMC for allowing me assist in your important commemorative projects for a few summers. Secretary Max Cleland is a terrific individual and an inspiration to those who pass through his life. I also thank my undergraduate advisor, Dr. Mark Snell, for introducing me to this topic and for years of high expectations, challenges, and friendship. I offer the upmost thanks to my dissertation committee. My co-chairs, Dr. James Siekmeier and Dr. Joshua Arthurs mentored me through my entire graduate program providing their expertise on U.S. diplomacy and collective memory. I thank you both for allowing me to think outside of the box in seminar papers, for reading all of my chapter drafts, and giving me vital suggestions. To Dr. Melissa Bingmann and Dr. Jason Phillips, thanks for consistently challenging me to view my topic from different perspectives. Dr. Kurt Piehler, although we did not work together within the same program, you have been central to this project. Your scholarship inspired me to research the American memory of wars and your support of my work gave me faith in my own ideas. I also want to give special thanks to my M.A. advisor, Dr. Peter Carmichael. Your graduate seminars and historical methodology caused me to mature intellectually and completely changed my perspective on how history is written. Dr. Bradley Coleman, you have shown me the work ethic that a good historian must have. I thank you for the opportunity you gave me with USSOUTHCOM and for turning me into a skilled archival researcher. I thank my parents, Terry and Brenda Hulver, for always being examples of the type of person I want to be. I could have never completed this degree without your unwavering love and support. You never questioned my decision to pursue an advanced degree in history and showed nothing but optimism even during my lows. I cherish the warm home you have created for our family. To my brother, Matt, thanks for always being a friend and for our many fireside conversations. I consider myself lucky to have gained wonderful in-laws, Craig and Carolyn Spurlock. You have both shown me nothing but love and instantly made me feel like a valuable addition to your family. West Virginia University will always hold a special place in my heart. The history department continually showed me support through teaching opportunities, scholarships, and research funding. I am particularly thankful for continuous support from my department chair, Dr. Elizabeth Fones-Wolf. Several individuals in WVU’s history department deserve a special thanks. I can never thank Joel Christenson enough for all of the advice he has given me. I am glad that you ended up as my partner on the iv Manifest Destiny discussion in my first graduate class, Joel. You have been someone that I have looked up to ever since. Karina Faria Garcia Esposito and Joe Rizzo, it was a pleasure learning to teach with you. Josh Esposito, Jake Ivey, and Joe Snyder thanks for the office talk and for sharing teaching resources. Josh Howard, I will never forget our fun times in the 304 and on the town in Morgantown. Joe Phillips, Jamie Blake, and Beth McMullen—our late-night exploration of the Rail Trail will always stand out as one of my fondest Morgantown memories. Thanks to Graham Godwin for always offering a fresh perspective on anything and everything—there are too many good memories of our year at Beechurst to comment on here. Allison Finkelstein, I enjoyed working with you at the ABMC and consider you a great friend and scholar. Justin Arner, Curtis & Marcy Dean, and Brett Zirkle—you are a special, and irreplaceable, group of friends. To my beautiful and talented wife, Caitlin Spurlock Hulver, I thank you the most. Meeting you at the Blue Lot of a WVU football game and earning your love was by far my greatest accomplishment in Morgantown. I am more proud of your achievements than any of my own. I only hope that the support I gave you through dental school measured up to the support you gave me through my program. Freeing time to spend evenings with you made my comps studying more efficient and my dissertation writing more productive. We work in very different fields, but you edit, research, and challenge me to clarify my ideas like a historian. I value you more than words can express. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................. iv Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1 Notes on Methodology .................................................................................................... 17 Summary ........................................................................................................................ 23 I. Becoming Instruments of Foreign Policy: Utility of American WWI Remains in France ................................................................................................................................ 31 Origins of Memory as a Diplomatic Tool .....................................................................
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