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The American Battle Monuments Commission

1986 Chapel Interior JVmertnm Cemetery anb

LOCATION Netherlands Cemetery, the only hours), any city in Holland, or from American military cemetery in the Germany via Aachen. A bus service Netherlands, is situated near the from Maastricht railroad station southeast limit of the country in the passes the cemetery entrance. village of Margraten, 6 miles (10 km) To reach Margraten by automobile east of Maastricht, on the main from the north, west or south, fol­ highway to Aachen, Germany, low the appropriate highway to which is 14 miles (22 km) farther Maastricht, thence east along the east. Margraten is 70 miles (112 km) Cadier en Keer/Vaals highway east of Brussels and 252 miles (405 (N278); if driving from Aachen, fol­ km) northeast of Paris. low the Maastricht highway (N278) Maastricht may be reached by west for 11 miles (18 km) after pass­ train from Brussels, from Paris (Gare ing the Netherlands frontier post. du Nord — in approximately 7 There are good hotels at Maas-

Memorial and Court of Honor

3 Location of Cemetery Features

tricht, Valkenburg, 4.5 miles (7 km), HISTORY Aachen and at other towns in the vicinity. Three months after successfully landing on the beaches of Nor­ mandy, Allied forces had advanced HOURS farther than they had thought possi­ The cemetery is open daily to the ble. By mid-September 1944, the public as shown below: U.S. First Army had crossed Luxembourg; captured Liege, Bel­ SUMMER (16 March-30 September) gium; reached the German frontier 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. — weekdays near Aachen; and entered the 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. — Saturdays, Netherlands near Maastricht. The Sundays and holidays U.S. Third Army sweeping across WINTER (1 October-15 March) France on the right had reached the 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. — weekdays Moselle River and made contact with 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. — Saturdays, the U.S. Seventh Army driving Sundays and holidays northward from southern France. When the cemetery is open to the The British Second Army on the left public, a staff member is on duty in had liberated Brussels and Antwerp, the Visitors' Building to answer as the Canadian First Army kept questions and escort relatives to pace with it along the coast liberating grave and memorial sites (except be­ Ostend and Bruges; both Armies tween noon and 3:00 p.m. on week­ then found themselves astride the ends and holidays). Netherlands frontier. 4 At this point, enemy defenses cross. The most important bridge of began to stabilize around the Sieg­ all over the Neder Rijn (lower Rhine) fried Line, the heavily fortified cities was still ten miles away. in front of that line to the west, and Enemy reaction at Arnhem was the more easily defensible natural swift and telling, as it quickly sepa­ barriers provided by the numerous rated the battalion of the British 1st rivers and canals in the Netherlands Airborne Division that had seized to the east. the north end of the Arnhem bridge In an attempt to outflank the north from the remainder of the division end of the Siegfried Line, the Allies and encircled the drop zones west of launched a combined airborne- the city. Harsh weather further ground assault along a narrow cor­ complicated the problem by prevent­ ridor across three major rivers (the ing the cutoff battalion from being Meuse, the Rhine and the Neder supported from the air. On the 5th Rijn) and several canals, the success day, a Polish Parachute Brigade of which among other things de­ made a valiant but unsuccessful pended heavily upon surprise. At attempt to reinforce it. Even when 1400 hours on 17 September 1944, ground troops arrived on 23 Sep­ elements of three divisions of the tember (the 7th day), all attempts to First Airborne Army were landed by send reinforcements north of the parachute and glider in column river failed. After dark on 25 Sep­ along the main road from Eindhoven tember, the battalion's remnants, to Nijmegen to Arnhem, a distance less than one-quarter of those who of 64 miles from the starting point of had landed, were evacuated to the the supporting British 30 Corps. Al­ south bank. most immediately, 30 Corps, con­ Allied progress during the next sisting of one Armored and two In­ three months was slow as opposi­ fantry Divisions, encountered tion stiffened in all areas. The British stronger resistance than was anti­ Second Army concentrated on cipated. Therefore, its progress was widening the sides of the Nijmegen much slower than planned. corridor, while the Canadian First Aided by air cover from the U.S. Army performed the difficult task of Eighth and Ninth Air Forces and the opening the Schelde estuary, so that Royal Air Force, the landings on the the port of Antwerp could begin to drop zones were extraordinarily operate on 28 November and ease successful. In the Eindhoven area, the logistical burden. The main the U.S. 101st Airborne Division Allied offensive effort during this captured all bridges except one that period was shifted to the center of was destroyed by the enemy. Con­ the enemy defenses. There, the U.S. trary to plans, the supporting First Army with strong air support ground column, did not reach Eind­ from the U.S. Ninth Air Force, broke hoven until the second day and it through the Siegfried Line and en­ was early on the third day before the circled Aachen which surrendered destroyed bridge was replaced. on 21 October. The U.S. Ninth South of Nijmegen, the U.S. 82d Army, which had been organized at Airborne Division quickly seized the Brest in Brittany, was shifted from bridge over the Maas (Meuse) River. the U.S. First Army's right flank to It was not until the 4th day (20 Sep­ its left. Together, the two Armies tember), however, that the bridge continued the assault to the Roer over the Waal (Rhine) River was cap­ River. On their right, the U.S. Third tured and not until the 5th day that Army and the U.S. Seventh Army, all defenders were cleared from the with the French First Army on the area and ground troops were able to extreme right, made substantial

5 "The Mourning Woman'

6 gains toward the German frontier. retreat across the Rhine. Despite Suddenly on 16 December 1944, constant harrassment by our air­ the Allied advance was interrupted craft, the enemy was able to de­ as the enemy launched its final molish all bridges across the Rhine. major counteroffensive of the war in On 10 March, the entire west bank of the Ardennes, followed by a second the Rhine from Dusseldorf north­ assault in Alsace to the south. By the ward was in Allied hands. end of January 1945, these offensives The major assault crossing of the were halted and all ground retaken. Rhine occurred on 23-24 March, The Allies then resumed their when the U.S. Ninth Army crossed advance, which was planned in two at Rheinberg, a city it had captured stages. The first stage was to clear all on 6 March. Advancing Allied enemy units west of the Rhine; the armies by-passed the northern second was to invade Germany Netherlands, encircled the Ruhr, itself. then pursued the retreating enemy The advance to the Rhine in the throughout Germany and Austria. north was scheduled to begin on 8 All enemy forces in Europe surren­ February 1945, with the Canadian dered on 8 May 1945. First Army attacking to the south­ east, followed in two days by a con­ verging attack to the northeast by SITE the U.S. Ninth and First Armies. The cemetery occupies 65V2 acres of When the V Corps of the First Army gently rolling farmland just south of seized control of the upstream dams the highway. The site was liberated of the Roer on 10 February, it dis­ on 13 September 1944 by troops of covered that the enemy had wrecked the U.S. 30th Infantry Division the discharge valves the evening which were advancing northeast­ before. The resultant heavy flow of ward toward the Roer River in Ger­ water halted the attack there for two many, as part of the U.S. First Army. weeks. A battlefield cemetery, one of the At 0245 hours on 23 February, first to be used for the interment of following a short but intensive air American soldiers who fell on Ger­ and artillery bombardment, the U.S. man soil, was established here on 10 Ninth Army lowered its assault November 1944 by the U.S. Ninth boats into the swirling waters and Army. began to cross the Roer River before Here rest 8,301 of our military the flood waters had completely Dead, representing 43 percent of subsided. Despite heavy enemy ar­ those who were originally buried in tillery fire, Julich was captured on this and in other temporary the first day, with the support of cemeteries in this region. Most of fighters and medium bombers of the them gave their lives in the airborne U.S. Ninth Air Force. and ground operations to liberate By 25 February, all four corps of eastern Holland, during the ad­ the U.S. Ninth Army had crossed vances into Germany over the Roer the Roer and were advancing. As the and across the Rhine and in air advance turned northward, the ar­ operations over these regions. mored units were committed. By 1 March 1945, the industrial city of ARCHITECTS Monchen-Gladbach had been cap­ tured. It was the largest German city Architects for the cemetery and taken to date. Now the advance memorial were Shepley, Bulfinch, became a race to destroy as many Richardson and Abbott, of Boston, units as possible before they could Mass.; the landscape architects were 7 Clarke, Rapuano and Halleran of from General Eisenhower's dedica­ New York City. tion of the Golden Book in St. Paul's Cathedral in London: GENERAL LAYOUT HERE WE AND ALL WHO SHALL HERE­ AFTER LIVE IN FREEDOM WILL BE RE­ From the entrance gate on the south MINDED THAT TO THESE MEN AND side of the Maastricht-Aachen THEIR COMRADES WE OWE A DEBTTO BE highway the approach drive leads to PAID WITH GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE the right, around a grassed oval, to OF THEIR SACRIFICE AND WITH THE the steps leading to the Court of HIGH RESOLVE THAT THE CAUSE FOR Honor. Immediately north and WHICH THEY DIED SHALL LIVE. south of these steps are the parking Engraved on the Roman Traver­ areas; farther to the south is the ser­ tine walls within the museum are vice area. three maps embellished with mosaic The Court of Honor of the memo­ and bronze and enamel appliques. rial leads to the tower containing the The large map on the north wall chapel. Beyond the chapel is the records the progress of the military burial area. The cemetery and operations from the landings in memorial were completed in 1960. Normandy until the end of the war. Mention is also made of the strategic THE MEMORIAL air attacks which started in 1942. Accompanying the map is a descrip­ Flanking the entrance to the Court of tive text in English and Dutch of Honor on the south side is the Vis­ which this is the English version: itors' Building. On the north side is the museum room. ON 6 JUNE 1944, PRECEDED BY AIRBORNE On the exterior wall of the UNITS AND COVERED BY NAVAL AND museum is this inscription taken AIR BOMBARDMENT, UNITED STATES

Aerial View of Cemetery 8 AND BRITISH COMMONWEALTH THIRD ARMY HAD REACHED THE FORCES LANDED ON THE COAST OF MOSELLE AND HAD JOINED FORCES NORMANDY. PUSHING SOUTHWARD WITH THE U.S. SEVENTH AND THE THEY ESTABLISHED A BEACHHEAD FRENCH FIRST ARMIES ADVANCING SOME 20 MILES IN DEPTH. ON 25 JULY, IN NORTHWARD FROM THE MEDITERRA­ THE WAKE OF A PARALYZING AIR BOM­ NEAN. ON THE LEFT FLANK, BRITISH BARDMENT BY THE U.S. EIGHTH AND AND CANADIAN TROOPS HAD ENTERED NINTH AIR FORCES AND THE ROYAL AIR THE NETHERLANDS. ON 17 SEPTEMBER FORCE, THE U.S. FIRST ARMY BROKE THREE AIRBORNE DIVISIONS DROPPED OUT OF THE BEACHHEAD WEST OF ST. IN THE EINDHOVEN-ARNHEM AREA IN LO. ON 1 AUGUST IT WAS JOINED BY THE A BOLD BUT UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT U.S. THIRD ARMY. TOGETHER THEY RE­ TO OUTFLANK THE FORTIFIED SIEG­ PULSED A POWERFUL COUNTERATTACK FRIED LINE. TOWARD AVRANCHES. CRUSHED BE­ PROGRESS DURING THE NEXT THREE TWEEN THE AMERICANS ON THE SOUTH MONTHS WAS SLOW, THE FIGHTING AND WEST AND THE BRITISH ON THE BITTER AS OPPOSITION STIFFENED. THE NORTH, AND ATTACKED CONTINU­ OPENING OF THE PORT OF ANTWERP ON OUSLY BY THE ALLIED AIR FORCES, THE 28 NOVEMBER MATERIALLY EASED THE ENEMY RETREATED ACROSS THE SEINE. LOGISTICAL BURDEN. IN THE CENTER SUSTAINED BY THE HERCULEAN THE FIRST AND NINTH ARMIES SEIZED ACHIEVEMENTS OF ARMY AND NAVY AACHEN AND FOUGHT THEIR WAY TO SUPPLY PERSONNEL, THE ALLIED THE ROER. METZ FELL AS THE THIRD ARMIES AND AIR FORCES PURSUED ARMY PUSHED TO THE SAAR. ON ITS VIGOROUSLY. BY MID-SEPTEMBER THE RIGHT, THE SEVENTH ARMY AIDED BY U.S. NINTH ARMY HAD LIBERATED THE FIRST TACTICAL AIR FORCE DROVE BREST; THE FIRST ARMY HAD SWEPT TO THE RHINE AT STRASBOURG, WHILE THROUGH FRANCE, BELGIUM AND FRENCH TROOPS FREED MULHOUSE. LUXEMBOURG AND WAS STANDING ON IN THE ARDENNES, ON 16 DECEMBER, THE THRESHOLD OF GERMANY; THE THE ENEMY LAUNCHED HIS FINAL

The Large Map 9 Military Operations in the Region of Margraten Airborne Operations Map

MAJOR COUNTEROFFENSIVE. PROMPT Rhine. It, too, is accompanied by an TACTICAL COUNTERMEASURES AND inscription in both languages of THE SUPERB FIGHTING QUALITIES OF which this is the English version: AMERICAN SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN IN EARLY SEPTEMBER 1944, THE ALLIED FINALLY HALTED THIS DRIVE. DURING FORCES WERE MOVING NORTHEAST­ FEBRUARY AND MARCH THE WEST WARD IN A SWEEPING ADVANCE. BANK OF THE RHINE WAS CLEARED IN A PROGRESS THROUGH FRANCE AND SERIES OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL BELGIUM WAS RAPID, BUT AS OUR OPERATIONS. IN RAPID SUCCESSION, TROOPS APPROACHED THE GERMAN AMERICAN FORCES SEIZED A BRIDGE AT FRONTIER THE OPPOSITION STIFFENED. REMAGEN, CROSSED THE RHINE AT TO OUTFLANK THE SIEGFRIED LINE AND OPPENHEIM, THEN ON 23-24 MARCH THUS TO OBTAIN IMMEDIATELY A STAGED WITH THE BRITISH THEIR BRIDGEHEAD OVER THE RHINE, THE AL­ MAJOR ASSAULT CROSSING NEAR LIES LAUNCHED A STRONG AIRBORNE WESEL. PUSHING RAPIDLY EASTWARD AND GROUND ASSAULT IN THE EAST­ OUR ARMIES ENCIRCLED THE ENTIRE ERN NETHERLANDS. RUHR VALLEY IN A GIGANTIC DOUBLE ON 17 SEPTEMBER 1944 ELEMENTS OF ENVELOPMENT. WITH THE AIR AND THE U.S. 101ST AND 82D AIRBORNE DIVI­ GROUND FORCES OPERATING AS A SIONS AND THE BRITISH 1 AIRBORNE TEAM, THE ALLIES SWEPT ACROSS DIVISION DROPPED IN COLUMN ALONG GERMANY TO MEET THE ADVANCING THE MAIN ROAD FROM EINDHOVEN TO TROOPS OF THE U.S.S.R. AND FORCE ARNHEM. THEIR MISSION WAS TO CAP­ THE COMPLETE SURRENDER OF THE TURE THE BRIDGES OVER THE MAJOR ENEMY ON 8 MAY 1945, 337 DAYS AFTER CANALS AND OVER THE MAAS, THE THEIR INITIAL LANDINGS IN FRANCE. WAAL AND THE NEDER RIJN, THUS ES­ On the west wall the map portrays TABLISHING A CORRIDOR THROUGH the daring large-scale airborne WHICH THE BRITISH 30 CORPS WOULD operation which was intended to ADVANCE RAPIDLY AND ESTABLISH IT­ outflank the fortified Siegfried Line SELF NORTH OF THE NEDER RIJN. ON and seize the crossings of the Lower THAT DAY MORE THAN 1,500 TROOP- 10 CARRYING AIRCRAFT AND 478 GLIDERS REMNANTS OF THE DECIMATED 1 AIR­ OF THE U.S. IX TROOP CARRIER COM­ BORNE DIVISION WERE EVACUATED. MAND AND THE ROYAL AIR FORCE, On the east wall the map records PROTECTED BY 2,200 COMBAT AIR­ the operations in the crossing of the PLANES OF THE U.S. EIGHTH AND Roer and the advance to the Rhine; NINTH AIR FORCES AND THE ROYAL AIR this is the English version of its in­ FORCE, CARRIED APPROXIMATELY 50% scription: OF THE STRENGTH OF THE THREE AIR­ UPON THE VICTORIOUS CONCLUSION BORNE DIVISIONS. INTENSIVE AIR BOM­ OF THE ARDENNES CAMPAIGN ON 25 BARDMENT OF ANTIAIRCRAFT GUN JANUARY 1945 THE ALLIES UNDERTOOK POSITIONS AND AIRFIELDS, AND THE THE TASK OF DESTROYING THE ENEMY ACHIEVEMENT OF SURPRISE CONTRIB­ ARMIES WEST OF THE RHINE. THE FIRST UTED TO THE SUCCESS OF THE INITIAL ATTACK WAS TO BE MADE ON THE OPERATIONS. NORTHERN FLANK BY THE CANADIAN IMMEDIATELY AFTER LANDING, THE FIRST ARMY AND THE U.S. NINTH ARMY; 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION SECURED THE U.S. FIRST ARMY WAS TO ADVANCE THE BRIDGES IN ITS AREA EXCEPT THAT ON THEIR RIGHT. THE CANADIANS AT SON WHICH THE ENEMY DE­ OPENED THE OFFENSIVE ON 8 FEBRU­ STROYED. THE 82D AIRBORNE DIVISION ARY BUT ON THE NEXT DAY THE ENEMY CAPTURED INTACT THE BRIDGE ACROSS FLOODED THE ROER VALLEY BY RELEAS­ THE MAAS AT GRAVE BUT FOUND ING THE WATER FROM AN UPSTREAM NIJMEGEN TOO STRONGLY HELD. A DAM. THIS CREATED AN IMPASSABLE BATTALION OF THE BRITISH 1 AIRBORNE OBSTACLE BEFORE THE NINTH ARMY, DIVISION REACHED ARNHEM AND WHICH THEN POSTPONED ITS ASSAULT SEIZED THE NORTHERN EDGE OF THE FOR NEARLY TWO WEEKS. DURING THE HIGHWAY BRIDGE ACROSS THE NEDER RESULTING DELAY THE U.S. EIGHTH RIJN, BUT OVERPOWERING ENEMY AND NINTH AIR FORCES CONTINU­ FORCES HELD THE REMAINDER OF THE OUSLY ATTACKED BRIDGES, RAILROAD DIVISION WITHIN A SMALL PERIMETER TRACKS AND MARSHALLING YARDS ON WEST OF THE CITY. ON SUCCEEDING BOTH SIDES OF THE RHINE TO ISOLATE DAYS, BAD WEATHER DELAYED AIR­ THE BATTLEFIELD. REACHING A CLIMAX BORNE REINFORCEMENTS AND ON 22 FEBRUARY, THE BOMBARDMENT SUPPLIES AND THUS PREVENTED EF­ SYSTEMATICALLY DISRUPTED THE FECTIVE AIR ASSISTANCE TO THE ENEMY COMMUNICATIONS AND FORCES FIGHTING TO ESTABLISH AND TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS MAINTAIN THE CORRIDOR. THROUGHOUT GERMANY. MEANWHILE THE ADVANCING 30 IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF 23 CORPS PASSED THROUGH THE 101ST FEBRUARY, FOLLOWING AN INTENSIVE AIRBORNE DIVISION WHICH HAD CAP­ ARTILLERY PREPARATION, THE LEAD­ TURED EINDHOVEN. IT THEN JOINED ING UNITS OF THE NINTH ARMY THE 82D AIRBORNE DIVISION IN ITS LOWERED THEIR ASSAULT BOATS INTO ATTACK ON THE NIJMEGEN BRIDGES, THE SWIRLING WATERS OF THE STILL BOTH OF WHICH WERE FINALLY SIEZED FLOODED ROER. THE SWIFT CURRENT INTACT ON THE EVENING OF 20 SEP­ AND ENEMY ARTILLERY FIRE ON THE TEMBER BY THE 82D AIRBORNE DIVISION CROSSING SITES MADE PASSAGE OF IN COOPERATION WITH BRITISH AR­ THE RIVER MOST HAZARDOUS, BUT THE MORED UNITS; BUT BRITISH INFANTRY XIX CORPS ADVANCED AND CAPTURED COULD NOT REACH THE SOUTH BANK JULICH ON THE FIRST DAY WHILE THE OF THE NEDER RIJN IN FORCE UNTIL 24 XIII CORPS MADE SUBSTANTIAL GAINS SEPTEMBER. THE ENEMY PREVENTED IN THE LINNICH AREA. FIGHTERS AND ALL ATTEMPTS TO REINFORCE THE MEDIUM BOMBERS OF THE NINTH AIR TROOPS BEYOND THE RIVER, AND FORCE CLOSELY SUPPORTED THE FOR­ AFTER DARK ON 25 SEPTEMBER THE WARD UNITS, DESTROYING ENEMY

11 TANKS AND EQUIPMENT; THE BRIDGE­ HEADS ON THE EAST BANK WERE MADE SECURE BY THE END OF THE SECOND DAY. ONCE ACROSS THE RIVER, THE U.S. NINTH ARMY OFFENSIVE RAPIDLY GATHERED MOMENTUM. ON 25 FEBRU­ ARY THE XVI CORPS CROSSED ON THE LEFT FLANK. ARMORED UNITS WERE COMMITTED AS THE DIRECTION OF AD­ VANCE TURNED NORTHWARD AND BROKE THROUGH THE ENEMY LINES. BY 1 MARCH THE INDUSTRIAL CENTER OF MONCHEN-GLADBACH HAD BEEN CLEARED, THE LARGEST GERMAN CITY YET CAPTURED BY ALLIED FORCES. THE BATTLE BECAME A PURSUIT; THE OBJECTIVE NOW WAS TO PREVENT AS MANY ENEMY AS POSSIBLE FROM ESCAPING. THE XIX CORPS REACHED THE RHINE NEAR NEUSS ON 2 MARCH WHILE THE XIII CORPS ENTERED KRE- FELD; EARLY THE NEXT DAY THE XVI CORPS MADE CONTACT WITH THE Chapel Lights CANADIAN FIRST ARMY AT GELDERN. CONSTANTLY HARASSED BY THE FIGHTER-BOMBERS OF THE NINTH AIR COURT OF HONOR FORCE, THE ENEMY WITHDREW, DEMOLISHING THE BRIDGES AS HE RE­ Extending from the steps to the TREATED ACROSS THE RIVER. BY 6 tower is the Court of Honor with its MARCH RHEINBERG, THE FUTURE reflecting pool. Engraved on the CROSSING SITE FOR THE NINTH ARMY, north and south walls of the Court HAD BEEN TAKEN. FOUR DAYS LATER are the names, rank, organization THE WEST BANK OF THE RHINE FROM and the State of 1,722 of our Missing DUSSELDORF NORTHWARD WAS IN of the Army and Army Air Forces*. ALLIED HANDS. These men gave their lives in the Below the maps are insignia of the service of their Country in this principal major units which partici­ region, but their remains have not pated in these operations. been recovered or identified. Their These maps were designed by names include men from every State Lewis York of New Haven, Conn., of the Union (except Alaska) and the from data prepared by the American District of Columbia. Battle Monuments Commission, Over these names is carved this and were executed by the Dura heading, with a Dutch translation: Company of Heerlen, Holland. The HERE ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF enamel-bronze appliques were fab­ AMERICANS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN ricated by the Morris Singer Com­ THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY AND pany of London. WHO SLEEP IN UNKNOWN GRAVES. On the exterior east wall of the Toward the east ends of the walls museum are mounted the two series of key maps "The War Against Ger­ * It will be recalled that during World War II many" and "The War Against Ja­ the Air Forces still formed part of the United pan." States Army. 12 are these inscriptions also: NEW LIFE FROM WAR'S DESTRUCTION PROCLAIMS MAN'S IMMORTALITY AND NORTH WALL: HOPE FOR PEACE. TO YOU FROM FAILING HANDS WE THROW THE TORCH — BE YOURS TO The west face of the tower bears HOLD IT HIGH (from John McCrae's this inscription from a free transla­ "In Flanders Fields"). tion of Pericles' oration as recorded by Thucydides: SOUTH WALL: EACH FOR HIS OWN MEMORIAL EARNED HONOR IS THEIRS WHO KNEW THE PRAISE THAT WILL NEVER DIE AND PATH OF HONOR. WITH IT THE GRANDEST OF ALL SEPUL­ The trees planted in lawns before CHRES NOT THAT IN WHICH HIS the Walls of the Missing are Japanese MORTAL BONES ARE LAID BUT A HOME Cherries (Prunus serrulata Seki- IN THE MINDS OF MEN yama). The tower rises 101 ft. above the THE TOWER AND CHAPEL Court of Honor. Its exterior walls, like those of the Court of Honor and The bronze group standing before the entrance pavilions, are built of the tower at the east end of the Court English Portland stone. On the walls of Honor was designed by Joseph flanking it to the left and right are the Kiselewski, of New York City and names of significant battles fought cast in Milan by the Battaglia found­ by the soldiers and airmen com­ ries. The mourning figure, the memorated: doves, the new shoot from the war- destroyed tree are appositely de­ MAASTRICHT ft EINDHOVEN ft GRAVE ft scribed by the inscription on the NIJMEGEN ft ARNHEM ft JULICH ft LIN- stone base: NICH ft GEILENKIRCHEN ft KREFELD ft

View of Wall of the Missing

13 also a gift of the Dutch people, bears the inscription:

PRO MUNDI LIBERTATE MORTUIS (To those who died for a free world) Another gift of the Dutch people is the wrought iron candelabrum next to the altar. A tablet near the door records these donations in the following terms (with a Dutch version):

THE LIGHTS AND ALTAR ORNAMENTS ARE THE GENEROUS GIFTS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE NETHERLANDS AND THE ADMINISTRATION & PEOPLE OF THE PROVINCE OF LIMBURG. The altar, itself of oak, bears the inscription:

HONOR ft FAITH ft VALOR

Chapel Entrance Mounted on the south wall of the chapel are three U.S. National flags, a Christian Chapel flag and a Jewish VENLO ft RHEINBERG ft COLOGNE ft Chapel flag. WESEL ft RUHR Following are the inscriptions in the interior of the memorial: On the north side of the tower is the entrance to the observation plat­ EAST WALL: form, reached by 149 steps, which 1941-1945 ft IN PROUD REMEMBRANCE affords a wide panorama of the OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF HER SONS countryside, as well as a compre­ AND IN HUMBLE TRIBUTE TO THEIR hensive view of the pattern of the SACRIFICES THIS MEMORIAL HAS BEEN burial area. ERECTED BY THE UNITED STATES OF The entrance to the chapel, AMERICA reached after mounting a few steps, is on the east, the burial area side, of NORTH WALL: the tower. The doors are of bronze O GOD WHO ART THE AUTHOR OF fabricated by H. H. Martyn of PEACE AND LOVER OF CONCORD DE­ Cheltenham, England, and bear in FEND US THY HUMBLE SERVANTS IN ALL outline a Tree of Life. Above them is ASSAULTS OF OUR ENEMIES THAT WE engraved: SURELY TRUSTING IN THY DEFENSE IN MEMORY OF THE VALOR AND THE MAY NOT FEAR THE POWER OF ANY AD­ SACRIFICES WHICH HALLOW THIS SOIL VERSARIES (Peace Prayer from the Episcopal The interior of the chapel is 52 feet Book of Common Prayer.) high. Suspended from the ceiling is the handsome lighting fixture pre­ SOUTH WALL: sented by the Dutch people and con­ O LORD SUPPORT US ALL THE DAY sisting of a royal crown surrounded LONG UNTIL THE SHADOWS LENGTHEN by tiny lights recalling the firmament AND THE EVENING COMES AND THE above. FEVER OF LIFE IS OVER AND OUR WORK The silver flower vase on the altar, IS DONE THEN IN THY MERCY GRANT US 14 A SAFE LODGING AND A HOLY REST the south side of the Court of Honor. AND PEACE AT THE LAST Within it is a comfortably furnished (From the "Works of Cardinal lounge where visitors may obtain Newman.") burial locations or other information from the cemetery staff or simply GRAVES AREA pause to relax and refresh them­ selves. The burial area is divided into 16 plots, lettered from A to P, separated by the broad central mall and by grass paths. The 8,300 headstones PLANTINGS are arranged in parallel arcs sweep­ ing across the broad green lawn. Characteristically American tulip poplars (Liriodendron Tulipifera) Of the 8,301 Dead who gave their line the central mall. Prominent are lives in their Country's service, from beds of rhododendron which pro­ every State in the Union, The Dis­ duce their wealth of blossom just trict of Columbia, England, Canada before Memorial Day each year. and Mexico, 106 are Unknowns. In Among the other plants at the ceme­ no less than 40 instances two tery are the hawthorn hedges brothers lie buried side by side, (Crataegus oxycantha), as well as the while one headstone marks the forested areas of various species of common grave of two Unknowns. oak, maple and hawthorn. At the top of the hill, on the axis of The wide curved borders north the mall, is the flagstaff. and south of the memorial are filled with Polyantha Roses framed within VISITORS' BUILDING a coping of dwarf box and backed The Visitors' Building is located on with a holly hedge.

View of Graves Area and Tower 15 Visitors' Building

Interior of Visitors' Building 16 Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, Belleau, Aisne, France

AMERICAN MEMORIALS and OVERSEAS MILITARY CEMETERIES

The AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS regulations for the erection of COMMISSION was created by act of monuments, markers and memo­ Congress in March 1923 to erect and rials in foreign countries by other maintain memorials in the United United States citizens and organiza­ States and foreign countries where tions, public or private. It was later the United States Armed Forces given responsibility for establishing have served since 6 April 1917, and or taking over from the Armed to control as to design and provide Forces permanent burial grounds in 17 foreign countries and designing, on foreign soil; and cooperating with After World War I, the American Armed Forces. In 1934 the World constructing and maintaining per­ American citizens, states, municipali­ Battle Monuments Commission War I oversea cemeteries were trans­ manent cemetery memorials at these ties or associations desiring to erect erected a memorial chapel in each of ferred to the Commission by Execu­ burial sites; controlling as to design war memorials outside the continental the eight military cemeteries over­ tive Order. and materials, providing regulations limits of the United States. It is not seas already established by the War The names and locations of these for and supervising erection of all responsible for construction, main­ Department, as well as eleven World War I cemetery memorials, monuments, memorials, buildings tenance or operation of cemeteries in monuments and two bronze tablets the number of burials and the and other structures in permanent the continental United States or its ter­ on the battlefields and elsewhere, to number of Missing recorded at their United States cemetery memorials ritories and possessions. record the achievements of our memorials are: 18 19 World War I Burials Missing Known Unknown Commemorated Aisne-Marne, Belleau, France 2,039 249 1,060 Brookwood, England 427 41 563 Flanders Field, Waregem, Belgium 347 21 43 Meuse-Argonne, Romagne, France 13,760 486 954 Oise-Aisne, Fere-en-Tardenois, France 5,415 597 241 St. Mihiel, Thiaucourt, France 4,036 117 284 Somme, Bony, France 1,707 137 333 Suresnes (See WW II also), France 1,535 6 974 Totals 29,266 1,654 4,452

World War I monuments erected cemeteries in Honolulu, Sitka and by the Commission are located at or Puerto Rico (which are now adminis­ near: Audenarde, Belgium; Bel- tered by the National Cemetery Sys­ licourt, France; Brest, France; Can- tem, Veterans' Administration). As tigny, France; Chateau-Thierry, was the case after World War I, some France; Gibraltar; Kemmel, Belgium; remains were left in isolated graves Montfaucon, France; Montsec, outside of the cemeteries by request France; Sommepy, France; and of the families who then became re­ Tours, France. World War I tablets sponsible for their maintenance. are at Chaumont and Souilly, Fourteen sites in foreign countries France. were selected as permanent By the end of World War II several cemeteries in 1947 by the Secretary hundred temporary cemeteries had of the Army and the American Battle been established by the American Monuments Commission in concert. Graves Registration Service of the Their locations reflect the progress of United States Army. During the the military operations and were years 1947 to 1954 that Service, com­ selected with consideration of their plying with the expressed wishes of accessibility, aspect, prospect, the next of kin, and by authority of drainage and other practical factors. law, repatriated the remains of some The World War II cemeteries with 172,000 recovered bodies. The re­ numbers of burials, including Un­ mainder were given final interment knowns, and the numbers of Miss­ in the permanent military cemeteries ing recorded at their memorials and on foreign soil, in private cemeteries at three separate memorials on overseas and in the national United States soil are:

World War II Bu rials Missing Known Unknown Commemorated l Ardennes, Neupre (Neuville-en-Condroz) Belgium . 4,536 7M 462 4,313 97 497 3,787 24 5,126 5,186 69 424 4,189 213 1,409 7,895 94 450 10,338 151 444 Luxembourg, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg 4,975 101 370 13,462 3,744 36,280 Netherlands, Margraten, Holland 8,195 106 1,722 Normandy, St. Laurent-sur-Mer, France 9,079 307 1,557 North Africa, Carthage, Tunisia 2,601 240 3,724 799 62 293 7,372 44(1 3,095 Suresnes (See WW I also), France 24 20 East Coast Memorial, New York City, New York ...... 4,596 Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii ...... 18,094 West Coast Memorial, San Francisco, California ...... 413

Totals 86,727 6,513 78,956 World War II cemeteries maintained by the National Cemetery System, Veterans' Administration National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (See Honolulu, Hawaii 11,597 2,079 Honolulu Memorial) Puerto Rico 69 Sitka, Alaska 67 5 Other Missing in Action Commemorated by ABMC Korean War, Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii ...... 8,195 Vietnam War, Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii ...... 2,489

In every case, use of the perma­ American Battle Monuments Com­ nent cemetery sites on foreign soil mission by Presidential Executive was granted in perpetuity by the Order. Thereupon the remaining host government to the United portions of the architects' designs States free of cost, rent and taxation. were carried out, step by step — The temporary cemetery sites not grading; installation of a system of selected as permanent cemeteries reinforced concrete beams on piles reverted to the landowners. to maintain the levels and align­ In 1947, an outstanding American ments of the headstones; fabrication architect was selected to design each and installation of the headstones; of the World War II cemeteries, con­ construction of water supply and ceiving its grave plots, a chapel and a distribution systems, utilities build­ museum as complementary ele­ ings, roads and paths; plantings; ments of an integral memorial to the and erection of the memorials, vis­ services and sacrifices of the Ameri­ itors' buildings and flagpoles. can Armed Services who fought in For design of the various memo­ the particular region. Upon approval rials, no specific limitations were of their general schemes by the imposed upon the architects other Commission and by agreement with than budgeted cost and a require­ the Secretary of the Army, the ar­ ment that each was to embody these chitects' plans of the grave plots features: were followed by the American A small devotional chapel; Graves Registration Service in mak­ inscription of the names and ing the permanent burials of those particulars of the Missing in the remains which by decision of the region; next of kin were to be interred over­ a graphic record, in permanent seas. The timely cooperation be­ form, of the services of our troops tween these two agencies contrib­ (WW II only; however, Oise- uted appreciably to the coherence of Aisne, Meuse-Argonne and St. the development of the cemetery de­ Mihiel WW I American Cemeter­ signs. ies also have battle maps). Beginning in the latter half of 1949, These requirements have been in­ the permanent interments having terpreted in a wide and interesting been virtually completed, the World variety of forms. War II overseas cemeteries were An important motive for the con­ progressively transferred for con­ struction of the memorials is the im­ struction and maintenance to the plied undertaking by our Govern- 21 Suresnes American Cemetery, Suresnes, Seine, France Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Cambridge, England ment to record by monuments the Against Germany" and "The War achievements of our Armed Ser­ Against Japan." Each set consists of vices, since the erection of memo­ three maps, each covering about rials by the troops (which in the past one-third of the period of our par­ unfortunately had all too often been ticipation in the war. By these key- found to be poorly designed, poorly maps any major battle may be re­ constructed and lacking provision lated to the others in time and space. for maintenance) was expressly for­ With each architect, an American bidden by the military services. The landscape architect, an American permanent graphic record takes the sculptor and an American muralist form of military maps, usually large or painter usually collaborated. murals, amplified by descriptive Their combined talents produced texts in English as well as in the lan­ the beauty and dignity of the memo­ guage of the country in which the rials, all of which are dedicated to the cemetery is located. The historical memory of the achievements of data for these maps were prepared those who served and of the sac­ by the American Battle Monuments rifices of those who died. The con­ Commission. The maps themselves struction of the cemeteries and were rendered by experienced ar­ memorials and the execution of most tists in tasteful presentation using of the works of art, were performed various media: layered marbles, by local contractors and artists under fresco, bronze relief, mosaic con­ the supervision of the Commission. crete or ceramics. Another feature of At each cemetery there is a vis­ interest at each memorial is the two itors' building or room, with com­ sets of "key-maps": "The War fortable furnishings. Here visitors 23 Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial, St. James, Manche, France may learn the grave locations (or in­ Tablets of the Missing (which also scriptions of the Missing) at any of include the names of those whose the oversea cemeteries. remains could not be identified and Each grave in the oversea those lost or buried at sea) give cemeteries is marked by a headstone name, rank, organization and state; of white marble—a Star of David for the circumstances under which those of Jewish faith, a Latin cross death occurred often precluded the for all others. Each headstone bears possibility of determining the exact the deceased's name, rank, service, date. organization, date of death and state These cemeteries are open every or territory from which he entered day of the year. Photography is the military service. permitted without special authoriza­ In the World War I cemeteries, tion, except when it is to be used for headstones of the Unknowns, i.e., commercial purposes—in such those remains which could not be cases, permission must be obtained identified, bear the inscription: from the Commission. Unlike National cemeteries under HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN AMERI­ jurisdiction of the Veterans' Ad­ CAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD. ministration, there can be no further burials in the American military In the World War II cemeteries, the cemeteries overseas except of those inscription reads: remains which may, in the future, be found on the battlefields. Essen­ HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY A COMRADE tially, these graves with their memo­ IN ARMS KNOWN BUT TO GOD. rials constitute inviolable shrines. 24 Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial, Draguignan, Var, France

25 In addition to the eight World War Monuments Commission con­ I cemeteries, the 14 World War II structed a memorial therein, incor­ cemeteries, 11 World War I monu­ porating the features of the memo­ ments and two tablets, the American rials in its oversea cemeteries. The Battle Monuments Commission names of 18,094 Missing of World program of commemoration in­ War II who gave their lives in the cludes the following: Pacific areas (except the Southwest and the Palau Islands which are SURESNES commemorated at the Manila Ceme­ tery Memorial) are recorded here as At the Suresnes Cemetery Memo­ well as 8,195 Missing of the Korean rial, senior representatives of the War and 2,489 Missing from the French and United States Govern­ Vietnam War. ments pay homage to our military Dead on ceremonial occasions. Ac­ AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY cordingly, 24 Unknown Dead of FORCES MEMORIAL, located on World War II were buried in this Penn. Ave. between 14th and 15th World War I cemetery, and two log­ Streets, NW in Wash. DC, com­ gias were added to its chapel by the memorates the two million Ameri­ Commission, thereby converting it can military personnel and their into a shrine commemorating our CinC, Gen. John J. Pershing, who Dead of both wars. made up the AEF of WWI. It consists of a stone plaza 52 ft. by EAST COAST MEMORIAL 75 ft., an 8 ft. statue of Gen. Pershing To commemorate those 4,596 on a stone pedestal, a stone bench Americans who, in or above the facing the statue and two 10 ft. high waters off the east coast of North and walls, one along the south side of the South America, but outside the ter­ memorial area and one along the ritorial limits of the United States, east. The south wall contains two gave their lives in the service of their battle maps with appropriate in­ country, the Commission erected a scriptions. Inscribed upon the re­ memorial in Battery Park, New York verse face of the east wall is Gen. City, upon which their names and Pershing's tribute to the officers and particulars are inscribed. men of the AEF: "IN THEIR DEVOTION, THEIR VALOR, AND IN THE LOYAL FUL­ FILLMENT OF THEIR OBLIGATIONS, THE WEST COAST MEMORIAL OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE AMERICAN Similarly, the names and particulars EXPEDITIONARY FORCES HAVE LEFT A of those 413 Americans who gave HERITAGE OF WHICH THOSE WHO FOL­ their lives in the service of their LOW MAY EVER BE PROUD." country off the west coast of the Americas but outside the territorial SAIPAN MONUMENT is situated limits of the United States, are re­ near the beach overlooking Tanapag corded at the memorial erected by Harbor on the Island of Saipan, the Commission at the Presidio of Commonwealth of the Northern San Francisco. Mariana Islands. It is part of an American memorial park com­ HONOLULU MEMORIAL memorating the American and Marianas Dead in the Marianas Although the National Memorial Campaign of World War II. The Cemetery of the Pacific at Honolulu monument honors specifically the is administered by the Veterans 24,000 American marines and sol­ Administration, the American Battle diers who died recapturing the vol- 26 Honolulu Memorial (WW II, Korea and Vietnam), National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii canic islands of Saipan, Tinian and French and English. It was officially Guam during the period of 15 June turned over to the American gov­ 1944-11 August 1944. ernment for operation and mainte­ It is a twelve-foot rectangular nance in perpetuity on 11 January obelisk of rose granite in a land­ 1979. scaped area of local flora. Inscribed upon the monument are these UTAH BEACH MONUMENT words: "THIS MEMORIAL HAS BEEN The Utah Beach Monument is lo­ ERECTED BY THE UNITED STATES OF cated at the termination of Highway AMERICA IN HUMBLE TRIBUTE TO THE N-13D, approximately 3 kilometers SONS WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE SAC­ northeast of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont RIFICE FOR LIBERATION OF THE (Manche), France. This monument MARIANAS 1941-1945." commemorates the achievements of POINTE DU HOC MONUMENT the American Forces of the VII Corps who fought in the liberation of the Following World War II, the French Cotentin Peninsula from 6 June to 1 erected a monument at Pointe du July 1944. It consists of a red granite Hoc overlooking the right flank of obelisk surrounded by a small, de­ Omaha Beach, France honoring the veloped park overlooking the his­ elements of the 2nd Ranger Battalion toric sand dunes of Utah Beach, one under the command of LTC James of the two American landing Rudder who scaled the cliff, seized beaches during the Normandy Inva­ the position, and defended it against sion of 6 June 1944. German counter-attacks at a high cost of lives. The monument consists of a simple pylon on top of a concrete MEXICO CITY bunker at the edge of the cliff and NATIONAL CEMETERY appropriate inscriptions at its base in The Mexico City National Cemetery 27 is at 31 Calzada Melchor Ocampo, COROZAL AMERICAN about 2 miles west of the cathedral CEMETERY, COROZAL, and about one mile north of the U.S. REPUBLIC OF PANAMA Embassy. This cemetery was estab­ lished in 1851 and contains a small The Corozal American Cemetery is monument over the grave of 750 of located approximately three miles our unidentified Dead of the War of north of Panama City, just off Gail- 1847. In this one acre area there are lard Highway between the Corozal 813 remains of Americans and others Railroad Station and Fort Clayton. in wall crypts. Care of the cemetery To reach the cemetery, follow Gail- was transferred from the Depart­ lard Highway north from Panama ment of the Army to this Commis­ City, turn right on Rybicki Road, and sion on 16 July 1947. This cemetery proceed about one-half mile to the was closed to burials in 1923. cemetery. Taxi and bus service to the 28 cemetery are available from Panama Florence, Sicily-Rome and North Af­ City. There are 4,844 identified rica cemeteries, where the Mediter­ "Known" Dead interred here. In ranean office is responsible and agreement with the Republic of Manila cemetery, where the Philip­ Panama, care and maintenance of pine office is responsible. the cemetery in perpetuity was as­ Orders for flowers for all sumed by the Commission on 1 Oc­ cemeteries may also be placed tober 1979. through any local florist who is a FLORAL DECORATIONS member of the "Florists Telegraph Delivery Association." In such In the oversea cemeteries, the deco­ cases, the name of the deceased, his ration of graves or the Tablets of the rank, service number, name of the Missing with natural cut flowers cemetery, country in which located only is permitted. The Commission and the location by plot, row and is always ready to help arrange with grave should be provided, if known. local florists in foreign countries for placement of such decorations. Re­ ADDITIONAL quests should be mailed so as to ar­ INFORMATION rive at the appropriate Commission office at least thirty days before the Further information regarding date of decoration and should be ac­ cemeteries and memorials may be companied by check or U. S. Postal obtained at the Commission's offices Money Order in dollars. Deposits in Washington, Garches (near may be made for a single decoration Paris), Rome or Manila. Visitors on a particular day—birthday, passing through these cities are in­ Memorial Day, Christmas Day, for vited to call. The Commission's example—or for several decorations representatives there may be of on particular dates within a year or assistance in verifying travel routes over a period of years. Checks and schedules and also in furnishing should be made payable to "ABMC information concerning overnight Flower Fund," money orders to accommodations. These offices are "The American Battle Monuments not open on Saturdays, Sundays or Commission." Requests should be holidays, but essential information addressed to the Commission's may be obtained overseas through European office, except in the case of our Embassy telephone operators.

SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC AVAILABLE THROUGH THE AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION Name, location and general information concerning the cemetery or memorial; plot, row and grave number if appropriate; best routes and modes of travel in-country to the cemetery or memorial; general infor­ mation about the accommodations that may be available in the vicinity; escort service within the cemetery memorial for relatives; letters au­ thorizing fee-free passports for members of the immediate family traveling overseas to visit a grave or memorial site; black and white photographs of headstones and sections of the Tablets of the Missing on which the servicemen's names are engraved; large color lithographs of World War I and II cemeteries and memorials to which the appro­ priate headstone or section of the Tablets of the Missing photographs are affixed; and arrangements for floral decoration of grave and memo­ rial sites. Photographs of graves in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (in Honolulu) are not available through the Commission. 29 Decorated Gravesite of an "Unknown" 30 THE AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION

ESTABLISHED BY CONGRESS MARCH 1923

Membership

Andrew J. Goodpaster Armistead J. Maupin Chairman Deputy Chairman Francis J. Bagnell William E. Hickey Kitty D. Bradley John C. McDonald Joseph W. Canzeri Freda J. Poundstone Aubrey O. Cookman Vacancy Rexford C. Early A. J. Adams, Secretary

UNITED STATES OFFICE MEDITERRANEAN OFFICE

Casimir Pulaski Building Street Address: 20 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. American Embassy Washington, D.C. 20314-0300 Via V Veneto 119A Telephone: (202) 272-0533 Rome, Italy 00187 272-0534 Mailing Address: APO New York 09794-0007 Telephone: 4674, Ext. 2033 06-475-0-157 Telegrams: ABMC AMEMBASSY EUROPEAN OFFICE Rome, Italy

Street Address: PHILIPPINE OFFICE 68, rue du 19 Janvier 92380 - Garches, France Street Address Mailing Address: American Military Cemetery APO New York 09777 Manila, R. P. Telephone: 4-701-1976 Mailing Address: Telegrams: ABMC APO San Francisco 96528 AMEMBASSY Telephone: Manila 88-02-12 Paris, France Telegrams: AMBAMCOM, Manila, R.P.

31 Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne, France