The Oldest Overseas American War Monuments Overseas, and Who They Honor

ABMC: “A monument erected by the U.S. Marine Corps and a flagpole are located on an island in the road passing through the clearing in the center of Belleau Wood. The monument commemorates the 4th Marine Brigade of the United States 2nd Division, which was primarily responsible for the capture of the wood.”

ABMC: “This memorial commemorates the American soldiers who served during the Battle of the Bulge from December 1944 to January 1945. Originally constructed by the Belgo-American Association, the memorial was dedicated on July 16, 1950. ABMC took responsibility for the memorial on December 12th, 2020.”

ABMC: “While sources differ as to the earliest burial, interments date at least to the Philippine American War (1899-1902). During that conflict and after, the United States operated a series of military installations in the Philippines with military post cemeteries.”

ABMC: “ABMC’s first cemetery, Suresnes, holds 1,541 Americans who died in World War I, together with 24 unknown dead of World War II. Bronze tablets on the walls of the chapel record the names of 974 missing in action, or lost or buried at sea in 1917 and 1918. Originally a World War I cemetery, Suresnes now shelters the remains of United States dead of both wars.”

ABMC: “The cemetery contains the graves of 4,153 American servicemen, the majority of whom died in the offensive to reduce the St. Mihiel salient, the first major offensive by an independent American Army in World War I. This offensive, launched in September 1918, took back in four days ground that had been held by the German Army for almost four years.”

ABMC: “This cemetery contains the graves of 1,844 Americans, most of whom lost their lives while serving in American units attached to British Armies, or in the operations near Cantigny. The headstones, set in rows, are separated into four plots by paths, which intersect at the flagpole near the top of the slope.”

ABMC: “At this cemetery rest 6,012 U.S. war dead, most of whom lost their lives while fighting in this vicinity during 1918. Their headstones, aligned in long rows, rise in a gentle slope from the entrance to the memorial at the far end. The burial area is divided into four plots by wide paths lined by trees and beds of roses; at the intersection is a circular plaza and the flagpole.”

ABMC: “Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery contains the largest number of American war dead in Europe, a total of 14,246. Most of those buried here lost their lives during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in 1918, America’s largest of World War I. The immense array of headstones rise in long rows upward beyond a wide central pool to the chapel that crowns the ridge.”

ABMC: “At this site rest 368 American war dead, most of whom gave their lives in liberating Belgium in World War I. Most of the dead are from four United States infantry divisions which operated in the regions. The 37th and 91st Divisions operated in the vicinity of the cemetery and the 27th and 30th Divisions served south of Ieper (Ypres).”

ABMC: “This cemetery contains the graves of 468 American war dead who died throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland during World War I. Close by are military cemeteries and monuments of the British Commonwealth and other Allied nations.”

ABMC: “This cemetery contains the graves of 2,289 war dead of the American Expeditionary Forces, most of whom fought in the vicinity and in the Marne valley in the spring and summer of 1918. From the hillside rises the memorial chapel decorated with sculptured and stained-glass details of wartime personnel, equipment and insignia.”

ABMC: “The Tours Monument commemorates the efforts of the 650,000 men who served during World War I in the Services of Supply of the American Expeditionary Forces and whose work behind the battle lines made possible the achievements of the American armies in the field. The Services of Supply were headquartered in Tours during the war.”

ABMC: “The monument, surrounded by vestiges of World War I trenches, dugouts and gun emplacements, is a tower of golden-yellow limestone. A platform at the top affords a wide view over the former battlefields. The monument, whose site was captured by American troops, commemorates the achievements of the 70,000 Americans who served in this region during the summer and fall of 1918.”

ABMC: “Erected by the United States of America to commemorate the achievements and comradeship of the American and British navies in this vicinity during the world war”

ABMC: “Erected by the United States of America to commemorate the achievements of the naval forces of the United States and France during the world war.”

ABMC: “This majestic monument, commemorating the achievements and sacrifices of American soldiers who fought in this region in 1917 and 1918, dominates the landscape for miles around. It consists of a classic circular colonnade with a broad approach stairway; its central feature is a large bronze relief map of the St. Mihiel salient, illustrating the military operations that took place there.”

ABMC: “Gen. John J. Pershing intended that the American monument at Montfaucon would be the most imposing World War I American monument in Europe. On August 1, 1937, the monument hosted the primary dedication cermony for ABMC’s World War I commemorative program, presided over by General Pershing.”

ABMC: “Erected by the United States of America to commemorate the services of American troops who fought in this vicinity August 18–September 4 1918”

ABMC: “The monument commemorates the Americans who served in the AisneMarne region and the friendship and cooperation of the French and American forces throughout World War I. It consists of an impressive double colonnade rising above a long terrace; on its west façade are sculptured figures representing the United States and France.”

ABMC: “This monument commemorates the capture of the village of Cantigny on May 28, 1918, by the United States 1st Division. This was the first offensive operation carried out by a large American unit in World War I. The monument stands in the center of the village in a small park developed and maintained by ABMC.”

ABMC: “Erected above a canal tunnel built by Napoleon I, it commemorates the achievements and sacrifices of the 90,000 American troops who served in battle with the British Armies in France during 1917 and 1918. The tunnel was one of the main defense features of the Hindenburg Line, which was broken by American troops in a brilliant offensive in September 1918.”

ABMC: “The Lafayette Escadrille Memorial Cemetery commemorates the birth of American combat aviation and serves as a symbol of Franco-American comradeship during World War I. This site honors the American volunteer pilots who flew with French squadrons during the Great War and is the final resting place for 48 of America’s first combat aviators, one Canadian aviator and two French officers.”

ABMC: “Erected by the United States of America to commemorate the services of American troops who fought in this vicinity Oct. 30–Nov. 11, 1918”

ABMC: “This memorial has been erected by the United States of America in humble tribute to all interred here who served in its Armed Forces or contributed to the construction, operation and maintenance of the Panama Canal”

ABMC: “To the honored memory of 750 Americans known but to God whose bones collected by their country’s order are here buried.”