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Aisne-Marne American Cemetery


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The Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial is located 6.5 miles/10.5 kilometers northwest of Chateau-Thierry, just north of Belleau Wood, the scene of fierce combat where many of those buried in the cemetery lost their lives in 1918. The 42-acre park includes a memorial chapel and visitor’s building. The cemetery and memorial were constructed by the American Battle Monuments Commission and dedicated on May 30, 1937.

The cemetery is laid out as a “T”. A long avenue leads from the visitor center towards the chapel. The chapel is built on the rising hillside while 2,289 gravesites extend to both sides curving slightly around each side of the chapel.

The chapel includes three columns on which are engraved scenes of soldiers preparing for bayonet charge, riflemen, artillery observers, and machine-gun crews. Within the chapel are small alcoves in which are listed the names of 1,060 missing in action.

 

Headstones: 2,289

Latin crosses: 2,256

Stars of David: 33

Missing in action: 1,060

Unknowns: 250

Sets of brothers: 3

Medal Of Honor recipient: 1 (Weedon E. Osborne)

 

Many thanks to Mrs Flora Nicolas, the Cemetery Associate, who gave me this information.

 

Entrance to the Cemetery

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The memorial chapel was erected over front line trenches dug by the 2nd Division as part of the defense of Belleau Wood, following capture of Belleau Wood by the division on 25 June 1918.

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Over the entrance is a figure of a crusader in armor, flanked by shield of the United states (on left) and France (on right) intertwined with branched of oak to symbolize the traditional unity of the two countries.

The carvings on the capitals of the three columns which flank each side of the chapel entrance depict scenes from the trenches of World War I.

Carved on the columns on the right side are soldiers preparing for a bayonet charge, automatic riflemen and riflemen; carved on the columns on the left are artillery observers, a machine gun crew and soldiers launching grenades.

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Above the inside of the entrance is inscribed: THE NAMES RECORDED ON THESE WALLS ARE THOSE OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS WHO FOUGHT IN THIS REGION AND WHO SLEEP IN UNKNOWN GRAVES

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Thank you, Squadleader! Another fine set of photographs! The American Battle Monuments Commission maintains this cemetery and all others in foreign lands in perpetuity, where American heroes rest for eternity. I have had the honor of visiting this place and a number of others throughout Europe. Every one has been outstanding in its maintenance and presentation. For the record, there are no American graves in any former enemy country. Americans who died in those places were repatriated to cemeteries in Allied lands or were, at the discretion of their next of kin, returned to the U.S.

 

My feeling is that our taxpayer dollars could not be spent in a more honorable and productive way than as is spent by ABMC. Should you ever have the opprtunity to travel to Europe make an effort to place one or all of these honored places on your travel itinerary. You will not be disapointed. It will make you proud(er) to be an American.

 

Bobgee

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Weeden E. Osborne's bio and citation:

 

Weeden Edward Osborne was born in Chicago, Illinois, on 13 November 1893. He grew up on a combined working farm, school, and orphanage for boys, Allendale Farm, Lake Villa, Illinois, after losing both of his parents as a child. He graduated from Northwestern University Dental School in 1915 and was appointed Dental Surgeon in the U. S. Naval Coast Defense Reserve with the rank lieutenant (junior grade) on 8 May 1917. Lt(jg) Osborne served at the Boston Navy Yard and on board the USS Alabama before he transferred to the 6th Regiment of Marines, American Expeditionary Force, France, on 26 March 1918 for service during World War I.

 

Lieutenant (junior grade) Osborne arrived at his new unit on 14 May 1918 only to find that his dental gear had been delayed. It was because of this delay that he volunteered for service on a front line aid party. He was still serving in this capacity weeks later when his unit advanced to Bouresches, France, and encountered the enemy at Belleau Wood. On 6 June 1918, Lt(jg) Osborne zealously threw himself into the work of rescuing the wounded. He was attempting to carry the seriously-wounded Marine Capt Donald Duncan to safety when an artillery shell killed both men instantly. For his selfless devotion to duty, Lt(jg) Osborne was awarded the Navy Medal of Honor and the Army Distinguished Service Cross.

 

MOH Citation:

 

"For extraordinary heroism while attached to the 5th regiment, U. S. Marines, in actual conflict with the ennemy and fire during the advance on Bouresche, France, on 6 June 1918. In the hottest of the fighting when the marines made their famous advance on Bouresche at the southern edge of Belleau Wood, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Osborne threw himself zealously into the work of rescuing the wounded. Extremely courageous in the performance of this perilous task, he was killed while carrying a wounded officer to a place of safety."

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The Yankee Division Memorial Church

 

After the battle of Belleau Wood, the men of the 26th "Yankee" Division relieved the Marines at Belleau, and on July 18, 1918 were to advance and take the village. The German troops were hidden in the village of Belleau and the hill above the town. A five hundred-year-old church stood in the center of the village and its tower became an enemy observation post and machine gun position. General Clarence Edwards ordered the 103rd Field Artillery to fire and destroy the village and church. After the battle, he promised to rebuild the church for the people of Belleau.

Ten years after the end of the war, the church was rebuilt at the entrance of the village. The funds for the project came from veterans of the 26th Division. The new church was dedicated on October 10, 1929.

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