Monument Details

First Three Fallen American Soldiers in WW1 Marker

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Details:

On top of the ridge at the location of the former battlefield. Marker

A stone stele made of the local reddish sandstone (Greys des Vosges) on which is mounted a black granite plaque with gold leaf inscription in French. Dedicated on 4 November 2017. It stands under one large flag pole and is visible in the distance. Information signed about each of the three soldiers and the battle that occurred here on November 3, 1917.

The three soldiers killed in action where part of Company F, 16th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division.

Another memorial to the three first KIAs is located in nearby Bathelemont. See site Bathlemont Cemetery.

Monument Text:

1917 2017

LA LORRAINE AUX ETATS UNIS

PREMIERE DIVISION D'INFANTERIE US

16^e RI Compagnie F

C'EST ICI

QUE SONT TOMBES LE 3 NOVEMBRE 1917

LES TROIS PREMIERES SOLDATS

DU CORPS EXPEDITIONNAIRE AMERICAIN

JAMES BETHEL GRESHAM

d'EVANSVILLE INDIANA

Merle David HAY

de Glidden IOWA

Thomas Francis ENRIGHT

de PITTSBURGH PENNSYLVANIE

English translation:

From Lorraine to the United States

First Infantry Divison

16th Infantry Regiment Company F

The first three soldiers of the Allied Expeditionary Force fell here on 3 November 1917

James Bethel Gresham of Evansville Indiana

Merle David Hay of Glidden Iowa

Thomas Francis Enright of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

Commemorates:

People:

Thomas Francis Enright

James Bethel Gresham

Merle David Hay

Units:

16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division

1st Infantry Division

American Expeditionary Forces (AEF)

United States Army

Wars:

WWI

Other images :

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