Memorial to the First Three Americans Killed in WWI
Details:
The memorial sits at the southeast side of the main entrance to the cemetery facing the road.
The red granite memorial features gold leaf text and an inscription in French. Information signs are placed adjacent to the memorial
The memorial honors the first three U.S. Soldiers killed in WWI on November 3, 1917. All three were members of the Company F, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. The memorial also remembers several other 1st Infantry Divsion soldiers killed in November 1917 who were temporarily buried in this cemetery.
Beside the memorial are the remains of the original monument destroyed by occupying German Forces during WWII; the original memorial was located in the town center (see town center information signs). This memorial was dedicated in 1951.
The memorial is maintained by Souvenir Français and the municipality of Bathelemont les Bauzemont.
The battlefield where the three solders were killed is nearby and a memorial marks the location. See site Rechicourt-la-Petite (Haut des Ruelles), First Three Fallen American Soldiers in WW1 Marker.
All the soldiers listed here are also rememberd at the First Infantry Divsion Memorial in Vigneulles. See site Vigneulles - Traffic Circle, First Division Monument (St Mihiel).
Monument Text:
A la memorire da
James Gresham
Thomas Enright
Merle Hay
les trois premiers soldats américains morts au combat en France
le 3 novembre 1917,
et Earl Aurand, John Czajka, Stanley Janovicz, Caney Meadors, Harry Myers, Peter Wojtalewicz, Harry Miller, Charles Rissmiller, Russel Sprague,
leurs neuf cammarades mort entre 13 et le 23 novembre
inhumes a Bathelemont de 1917 a 1921.
Translation:
In memory of
James Gresham
Thomas Enright
Merle Hay
the first three American soldiers killed by the enemy on 3 November 1917
Earl Aurand, John Czajka, Stanley Janovicz, Caney Meadors, Harry Myers, Peter Wojtalewicz, Harry Miller, Charles Rissmiller, Russel Sprague,
their nine comrades who died between November 13th and 23rd
buried in Bathelemont from 1917 to 1921.
buried in Bathelemont from 1917 to 1921.
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
1st Engineer Combat Battalion, 1st Infantry Division
1st Infantry Division
26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
5th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
American Expeditionary Forces (AEF)
United States Army
Wars:
WWI
Other images :
