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North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial

American Battle Monuments Commission
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Chapel Interior

North Africa

American

Cemetery

 and

Memorial

LOCATION

North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial is situated 10 miles northeast of the city of Tunis, 

Tunisia, and 5 miles northeast of its airport (E1 Aouina). It may be reached by taxicab from the city or 

the airport. There is an electric commuter train from Tunis--the nearest stop is at Amilcar station, from 

which the cemetery is only two or three hundred yards distant. Hotels are available in Tunis, 
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Carthage, Amilcar and Gammarth. The weather is likely to be quite hot during the summer months 

and cold on occasion during the winter.

HOURS

The cemetery is open daily to the public from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm except December 25 and January 1. 

It is open on host country holidays. When the cemetery is open to the public, a staff member is on 

duty in the Visitors’ Building to answer questions and escort relatives to grave and memorial sites.

Cemetery Entrance

HISTORY 

Prior to entry into World War II, the United States adopted a strategic policy regarding how it would 

conduct combat operations should it be forced into war against the Axis powers (Germany and Italy) 

and Japan at the same time. The policy was to defeat the stronger enemy in Europe first, while 

simultaneously maintaining a vigorous defensive posture against Japan. It was not altered by the 

Japanese surprise attack at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.
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Overview of the Graves Area

The basic plan of action advocated by U.S. war planners was to concentrate forces, supplies and 

materiel in the British Isles, and after a period of training, to launch a powerful amphibious across the 

English Channel in the summer of 1943. Although the German advance against Moscow had been 

stopped in December 1941 and the enemy had been forced backward by a strong Russian winter 

offensive, the Germans again began advancing rapidly in 1942. The Crimea was overrun, Sevastopol 

was captured and German forces were moving against Stalingrad on the Volga River. Even greater 

advances were being made in the Caucasus Mountains to the southeast.

Matters also were going badly for the British in the Mediterranean area along the coast of North 

Africa in Libya and Egypt, the area known as the Western Desert. There, where the fighting had been 

seesawing back and forth for nearly two years, the combined German-Italian force known as the Afrika 

Korps had forced the British Eighth Army back further into Egypt, and was closer to Alexandria than 

ever before. Additional Axis advances in Egypt and the Caucasus posed a threat to the entire Middle 

East.

The Allies sorely needed an offensive operation that would lessen the pressure on the British 

Eighth Army in Egypt. The only operation that could be undertaken with a reasonable chance of 

success was an assault in French Morocco and Algiers in northwest Africa. It had the advantage of 

getting American forces into action in 1942, although it would probably delay the cross-Channel 

assault planned for 1943.
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Location of Cemetery Features

The Allies hoped that French forces defending northwest Africa, which were operating under the 

control of the portion of France which had not been occupied by the Germans after the armistice of 

1940, might welcome them or offer only token resistance. Some of these forces were loyal to Vichy, 

France; others were sympathetic to the Allied cause.

The invasion plan of northwest Africa provided for three naval task forces to land before dawn 

on 8 November 1942 in three widely separated areas. The U.S. Western Naval Task Force, composed 

entirely of American ships sailing from the United States at the height of the Battle of the Atlantic 

against German submarines, arrived unsuspected and undetected. Its landings in French Morocco 

encountered the strongest resistance of any of the landing forces. In the center, the U.S. 3rd Infantry 

Division landing at Fedala near Casablanca, found both army and navel forces opposing it. As it 

fought its way inland, fire from U.S. naval forces neutralized the shore batteries and sank several 

French warships. By 1500 hours, Fedala had fallen. The U.S. 3rd Division then closed on Casablanca 

where it met strong resistance, until on 11 November upon orders from Algiers, the French 

surrendered.

Further to the south, the 47th Regimental Combat Team of the U.S. 9th Infantry Division and the 

Combat Command B of the U.S. 2nd Armored Division established a bridgehead at Safi, against heavy 
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Statue of “Honor” by Reflecting Pool

ground and air resistance. When U.S. carrier planes joined the attack, Combat Command B drove 

northward toward Casablanca, halting only when it was informed that resistance had ceased. To the 

north, the 60th Regimental Combat Team of the U.S. 9th Division captured the Port Lyautey airfield late 

on 10 November, with the support of naval and armored units,

When the British Center and Eastern Naval Task Forces coming from the United Kingdom 

passed through the Straits of Gibraltar, their presence was immediately reported to the enemy by spies. 

As the British Eighth Army had won a great victory at E1 Alamein just a few days before and now was 

pursuing the Afrika Korps westward toward Libya and Tunisia, the enemy assumed falsely tha t the 

task forces were en route to block the retreat of the Afrika Korps.

Although the war and troop ships of the British Center Naval Task Force were British, the 

assault troops at Oran, as in French Morocco, were entirely American. Landing on both sides of the 

city, the U.S. 1st Infantry Division, elements of the U.S. 1st Amored Division and a battalion of 

Rangers met only sporadic resistance as they came ashore. Quickly, the infantry advanced toward the 

city while the armored units seized the airfields, where a U.S. parachute battalion had previously been 

dropped nearby. The French capitulated at 1230 hours on 10 November.

The landing at Algiers from the ships of the British Eastern Naval Task Force encountered the 

least resistance. Debarking on both sides of the city, the force consisted of the U.S. 34th Infantry 

Division, the 39th Regimental Combat Team of the U.S. 9th Infantry Division, British Commandos and 
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Statue of “Memory” by Tablets of the Missing

elements of the British 78th Infantry Division. Opposition ended that same day, as orders from Algiers 

were issued to cease all hostilities in North Africa.

Meanwhile, the race for Tunisia had begun. Anticipating that the Allies next would move into 

Tunisia to seize the Tunis-Bizerte area, the enemy began moving troops as rapidly as possible into 

northern Tunisia by sea and air, even though fighting was still in progress at Oran and in French 

Morocco. The following day, the floating reserve of the British Eastern Naval Task Force, a brigade 

group of the British 78th Division, was dispatched eastward to the port of Bougie, in the first step of the 

Allied advance toward Tunisia. That evening, German and Italian forces moved into southern France 

as Italy prepared to seize Corsica.

At this stage of the war, it was clear to almost all Frenchmen that the future of France depended 

upon whether or not it joined with the Allies. Among the first to take this action was the French army 

commander in Tunisia. Although his forces were greatly outnumbered by the enemy, he slowly 

withdrew them into the mountains to establish contact with Allied troops moving eastward. As the 

number of troops on each side gradually strengthened, both the Allies and the Axis launched a series of 

attacks on Tunisia with indifferent success. By advent of the winter rains, it was clear that the British 

First Army and its attached French and American units were unable to oust the stronger German Fifth 

Panzer Army from Tunisia. A major factor was the enemy's superiority of air power. 

In January 1943, the U.S. II Corps began arriving in southern Tunisia with some additional 

troops. At that time, the British First Army was organized from north to south into three corps; the 
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Statue of “Recollection” by the Tablets of the Missing

British 5 Corps in the north, the French XIX Corps in the center, the U.S. II Corps in the south. 

Throughout the next month and a half, the stronger enemy air and ground forces hammered away at the 

Allies in central and southern Tunisia. To reduce the effects of these attacks, U.S. units were dispersed 

throughout their area as were units of the French XIX Corps to the north.

Meanwhile, by early February the Afrika Korps had retreated across Libya and reached the 

Mareth Line, a series of old French fortifications in southern Tunisia. There it began to prepare a 

defense against the approaching British Eighth Army, whose pursuit had been slowed by major 

logistical problems.

Before the British Eighth Army arrived in strength, the German Fifth Panzer Army and the 

Afrika Korps launched a heavy armored assault against the widely-dispersed U.S. II Corps. In a series 

of sharp actions, the enemy forced a withdrawal, broke through the mountains near the Kasserine Pass 

into the valley beyond and achieved spectacular success. They were not halted until 22 February when 

combined American and British armored and infantry units and the U.S. 9th Division Artillery, which 

had been rushed to the scene from as far away as Oran, arrived in the nick of time to stem the assault.

Two more enemy attacks were repulsed, one in the north, the other against the British Eighth 

Army, of which only a few of its units had arrived. From that point onward, the initiative passed to the 

Allies. As the reorganized U.S. II Corps threatened the Mareth Line from the flank and rear, the 

British Eighth Army attacked frontally. Success was achieved when New Zealand and British troops 

outflanked the Afrika Korps' position and drove northward. During the same March period, the Allies 
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Entrance to the Memorial

gained control of the air. By mid-April, the enemy had been driven northward and was confined to a 

small area in -*northeast Tunisia consisting of Bizerte, Tunis and the Cape Bon Peninsula.

In preparation for the final Allied attacks, the U.S. II Corps was moved north opposite Bizerte. 

The British First Army's main effort was to be made in the center by the British 5 and 9 Corps, the 

latter corps having been organized when reinforcements were transferred from the British Eighth 

Army. On 19 April, the British Eighth Army began to attack in the south, but made little gain at great 

cost. Three days later the British First Army's main attack was launched and was met by a vigorous 

defense. In the center, very little progress was being made. However, the U.S. II Corps in the north 

and the French XIX Corps further south were making substantial gains.

At this time two additional divisions were transferred from the British Eight Army to strengthen 

the First Army's British 5 and 9 Corps. Utilizing the reinforcements, the attack resumed on 4 May, 

preceded by a devastating air bombardment. Little could be done to counter the bombardment as the 

enemy had withdrawn almost all its aircraft to Sicily. The U.S. II Corps captured Bizerte on 7 May 

and the British 5 and 9 Corps drove down to the Medjerda River to capture Tunis that same day. On 9 

May, the enemy in the U.S. Corps area capitulated. By 13 May 1943, over one quarter of a million 

Axis troops had been taken prisoner. 
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Cloister with Stone of Remembrance

THE SITE

The cemetery site covers 27 acres of the plateau lying between the Mediterranean and the Bay of 

Tunis, both of which are a mile or so distant. It is located near the site of the ancient Carthaginian city 

destroyed by the Romans in 146 B.C. and lies over part of the site of Roman Carthage. Some 200 

yards to the east are remnants of Roman houses and streets -- the entire region thereabouts contains 

vestiges of the Roman city as well as some remains of the Carthaginian era.

After the end of World War II survey made jointly by representatives of the Secretary of War 

and the American Battle Monuments Commission revealed that all of the sites of the temporary 

cemeteries established in North Africa during the war had major disadvantages. The present site was 

established in 1948. It lies in the sector of the British First Army which liberated the Tunis area in 

May 1943. Construction of the cemetery and memorial was completed in 1960.

Here rest 2,841 of our Military Dead, representing 39 percent of the burials which were 

originally made in North Africa and in Iran. A high proportion of these gave their lives in the landings 

in, and occupation of, Morocco and Algeria and in subsequent fighting which culminated in the 

liberation of Tunisia. Others died as a result of accident or sickness in these and other parts of North 

Africa, or while serving in the Persian Gulf Command in Iran.

 
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Tablets of the Missing with Statue of “Honor” in foreground

ARCHITECTS

Architects for the cemetery and memorial were Moore and Hutchins of New York City, New York. 

The landscape architect was Bryan J. Lynch also of New York.

GENERAL LAYOUT

The main entrance from the eucalyptus-bordered highway is at the southeast corner of the cemetery. 

To the right of the entrance is one of the superintendent's houses; beyond is the oval forecourt. 

Beneath the green plot in the center of the forecourt is the reservoir which stores the water for the 

cemetery needs, as well as the pumps which operate the high pressure sprinkling system. All of the 

water comes from the municipal supply for which the storage area is located some miles to the south of 

the city of Tunis. Down the hill and beyond the forecourt is the utilities area.

In the forecourt are rows eucalyptus and ornamental India laurel fig (Ficus nitida) trees; the beds 

include Pittosporum tobira, scarlet hibiscus, Lantana camara, English ivy, Cassia floribunda, 

orangeberry pittosporum and other shrubs and vines.

Extending to the left (west) of the forecourt and parking area is the mall. At the head of the steps 

leading to the mall, and at the right (north) is the Visitors' Building, built of Roman travertine marble 

imported from Italy; west it is the flagpole.
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On the south side of the mall are the Tablets of the Missing; at its far (west) end is the memorial 

chapel. North of the mall is the graves area which it overlooks. South of the highway is an additional 

area used for services purposes.

THE TABLETS OF THE MISSING

The Tablets of the Missing consist of a wall 364 feet long, of local Nahli limestone, with local 

Gathouna limestone copings. Built into it are panels of Trani limestone imported from Italy on which 

are inscribed the names and particulars of 3,724 of the Missing:

United States Army and Army Air Forces.........3,095

United States Navy.................................................615

United States Coast Guard.......................................14

These men gave their lives in the service of their Country; but their remains either were not identified 

or they were lost or buried at sea in the waters surrounding the African continent. They include men 

from all of the States except Hawaii and from the District of Columbia.

Without confirmed information, a War Department Administrative Review Board established the 

official date of death of those commemorated on the Tablets of Missing as one year and a day from the 

date on which the individual was in Missing in Action status.

At each end of the Tablets is this inscription:

HERE ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF AMERICANS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE 

SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY AND WHO SLEEP IN UNKNOWN GRAVES 1941-45 * INTO 

THY HANDS O LORD.

Near the foot of the steps leading down from the forecourt is a pool and figure of HONOR about 

to bestow a laurel branch upon those who gave their lives. The figure's pedestal bears this inscription:

HONOR TO THEM THAT TROD THE PATH OF HONOR.

Along the wall are two other sculptured figures: MEMORY and RECOLLECTION, the latter 

holding a book with the inscription PRO PATRIA. Between these figures are oak leaf wreaths within 

which are engraved the names of battles on land, sea and in the air, in which the American forces 

participated: ORAN, CASABLANCA, ALGIERS, KASSERINE, EL GUETTAR, SIDI NSIR, 

BIZERTE, SICILY, PLOESTI. All of this sculpture is of Bianco Caldo stone from near Foggia, Italy; 

it was designed by Henry Kreis of Essex, Connecticut, and executed by Pietro Bibolotti, Pietrasanta, 

Italy.

Planted in front of the Tablets of the Missing are rows of India laurel fig trees (Ficus nitida) in 

beds of English ivy. On the north side of the terrace are rows of holly oaks (Quercus ilex) and potted 

pink geraniums adjacent to beds of ivy.
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Map of American and Allied Forces in North Africa 1942-1943
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Map of Military Operations in Southern Tunisia

THE MEMORIAL

The memorial consists of the Court of Honor and the chapel. The Court of Honor is in the form of a 

cloister. Within it is a large rectangular stone of remembrance of black Diorite d'Anzola quarried in 

northwest Italy; this inscription, adapted from Ecclesiasticus XLIV, is worked into the design of the 

mosaic panel surrounding the base:

SOME THERE BE WHICH HAVE NO SEPULCHRE THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE.

The rectangular pylons of the cloister are of San Gottardo limestone from the vicinity of Vicenza 

in Italy; the main part of the structure of the memorial is faced with Roman travertine. The pavement 

is of Sienite della Balma granite from northwest Italy. In the southwest corner is a Russian oleve tree 

(Elaeagnus angustifolia). On the west wall of the cloister facing the mall is this inscription, with 

translations in French and Arabic:
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Map of Military Operations in Northern Tunisia

1941-1945

IN PROUD REMEMBRANCE OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF HER SONS AND IN HUMBLE 

TRIBUTE TO THEIR SACRIFICES THIS MEMORIAL HAS BEEN ERECTED BY THE UNITED 

STATES OF AMERICA.

At the south end of the cloister are the maps. These are of ceramic, designed and fabricated by 

Paul D. Holleman of Roxbury, Massachusetts, from information supplied by the American Battle 

Monuments Commission.

The large map on the end (south) wall records the military operations of the American forces and 

those of the Allies in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia from the initial "Torch" landing on 8 November 

1942 to the Axis surrender on 13 May 1943. The descriptive text is in English, Arabic and French, of 

which this is the English version:
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Map of Air Transport and Supplies to Russia

ON 8 NOVEMBER 1942, IN A MAJOR OPERATION COVERED BY NAVAL GUNFIRE AND 

AIRCRAFT, UNITED STATES AND BRITISH TROOPS WERE LANDED SIMULTANEOUSLY 

IN THREE WIDELY SEPARATED AREAS ON THE SHORES OF NORTH AFRICA. THE 

AMERICAN WESTERN NAVAL TASK FORCE, SAILING FROM THE UNITED STATES, 

LANDED AMERICAN TROOPS AT FEDALA, MEHDIA AND SAFI FOR THE ASSAULT ON 

CASABLANCA. OTHER AMERICAN UNITS ESCORTED FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM BY 

THE BRITISH CENTER NAVAL TASK FORCE WENT ASHORE NEAR ORAN AND IN TWO 

DAYS OCCUPIED THAT CITY. SHIPS OF THE BRITISH EASTERN NAVAL TASK FORCE, 

COMING ALSO FROM THE BRITISH ISLES, LANDED UNITED STATES AND BRITISH 

TROOPS NEAR ALGIERS WHICH WAS OCCUPIED THAT DAY. FOLLOWING THE 

LANDINGS, THE ALLIED NAVAL FORCES KEPT THE SEA LANES OPEN FOR AN 

UNINTERRUPTED FLOW OF SUPPLIES AND ALSO PROVIDED FIRE SUPPORT TO THE 

TROOPS ASHORE. ON 11 NOVEMBER AN ARMISTICE PROCLAMATION ENDED VICHY 

FRENCH RESISTANCE THROUGHOUT ALGERIA AND MOROCCO.
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THESE ALLIED FORCES THEN TURNED EASTWARD TOWARD TUNISIA INTO 

WHICH AXIS TROOPS WERE STEADILY STREAMING. MOVING RAPIDLY, AMERICAN 

AND BRITISH UNITS ADVANCED ACROSS THE FRONTIER TOWARD TUNIS. STRONG 

RESISTANCE, COUPLED WITH UNFAVORABLE WEATHER AND DIFFICULT SUPPLY 

CONDITIONS, CHECKED THIS ADVANCE JUST 16 MILES FROM ITS GOAL DURING THE 

FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER A COUNTEROFFENSIVE IN THE TEBOURBA-CHOUIGUI 

AREA PUSHED BACK THE ALLIED LINE BETWEEN JEFNA AND MEDJEZX EL BAB.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE LANDINGS, ALLIED AIR UNITS HAD OCCUPIED 

EXISTING NORTH AFRICA BASES AND HAD AIDED THE EASTWARD ADVANCE, BUT 

LACK OF SUITABLE FORWARD AIRFIELDS AND SHORTAGES OF PERSONNEL AND 

AIRCRAFT HAMPERED THEIR OPERATIONS.

DURING DECEMBER AND JANUARY AXIS FORCES, WHICH HAD BEEN STRONGLY 

REINFORCED BY SEA AND AIR, WERE AGGRESSIVE IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN 

TUNISIA. IN MID-FEBRUARY THEY LAUNCHED A PINCERS ATTACK AIMED AT EL KEF 

WHICH PENETRATED UNITED STATES II CORPS POSITION, PUSHED THROUGH A PASS 

NORTHWEST OF KASSERINE BUT WAS HALTED ON 22 FEBRUARY BEFORE THALA. 

ONE MONTH LATER THE BRITISH EIGHT ARMY TURNED THE WESTERN FLANK OF THE 

MARETH LINE AND DROVE THE ENEMY NORTHWARD TO ENFIDAVILLE. THE FRENCH 

XIX CORPS HELD FAST IN ITS MOUNTAIN POSITIONS NEAR MAKTAR.

BY MARCH 1943 THE ALLIES HAD GAINED CONTROL OF THE SKIES OVER AFRICA. 

THE FINAL CAMPAIGN OPENED IN NORTHWEST TUNISIA ON 22 APRIL 1943. THE 

UNITED STATES II CORPS, NOW ON THE ALLIED LEFT FLANK, PUSHED EASTWARD, 

REDUCING SUCCESSIVE DEFENSIVE POSITIONS IN DIFFICULT HILLY TERRAIN, 

LIBERATING MATEUR, FERRYVILLE AND BIZERTE. MEANWHILE THE BRITISH 5 AND 9 

CORPS WERE ENGAGED IN A DETERMINED ASSAULT DOWN THE MEDJERDA RIVER 

WHICH CULMINATED IN FREEING THE CITY OF TUNIS. IN THE II COPRS AREA THE 

ENEMY CAPITULATED ON 9 MAY. BY 13 MAY, DENIED ESCAPE BY ALLIED MASTERY 

OF THE SEA AND AIR, ONE QUARTER OF A MILLION AXIS TROOPS THEN REMAINING IN 

TUNISIA BECAME PRISONERS OF WAR.

On this wall also are the two series of key mapXXXXXXXXXXXXs -- "The War against 

Germany" and "The War Against Japan."

As indicated by the texts, the map on the east wall records in greater detail the operations in 

central and southern Tunisia, while the one on the opposite (west) wall covers the final stages in 

northern Tunisia.

The map on the west pylon portrays most of Africa, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. It 

records the air ferry routes across Africa as well as the operations of the Persian Gulf Command.

The descriptive text for this map, also in English, French and Arabic, is on the face of the 

corresponding east pylon. The English text follows:
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THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WHILE CONTRIBUTING ITS LAND, SEA, AND AIR 

FORCES TO THE PROSECUTION OF WORLD WAR II, ALSO AIDED ITS MANY ALLIES BY 

FURNISHING MILITARY EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES. ITEMS OF ALL KINDS WERE 

CARRIED BY VAST FLEETS OF STEAMSHIPS TO EVERY AVAILABLE PORT. IN THIS 

EFFORT ALSO AIRCRAFT WERE FERRIED FROM THE UNITED STATES ACROSS THE 

ATLANTIC OCEAN AND CENTRAL AFRICA TO CAIRO, KARACHI AND BASRA.

THROUGH THE PERSIAN GULF COMMAND AREA, THE UNITED STATES 

DELIVERED, FROM 1942 TO 1945, NEARLY 4 1/2 MILLION TONS OF SUPPLI ES TO THE 

U.S.S.R. THESE INCLUDED 4,874 AIRCRAFT OF WHICH 995 WERE FLOWN IN; OVER 

160,000 TANKS, ARMORED CARS AND TRUCKS, 140,000 TONS OF GUNS, AMMUNITION 

AND EXPLOSIVES; 550,000 TONS OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS; 950,000 TONS OF FOOD; 

AND 1,000,000 TONS OF METAL AND METAL PRODUCTS. THE UNITED STATES ALSO 

FURNISHED TO THE U.S.S.R., THROUGH OTHER PORTS, MORE THAN 13 MILLION TONS 

OF ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES.

THE CHAPEL

The bronze doors and the windows of the chapel were fabricated by the Morris Singer Company of 

London, England. At the far end of the chapel, which is lighted by the tall window on the right and a 

row of lower windows on the left is the altar of white Carrara marble, with this inscription from 

St.John X:28: I GIVE UNTO THEM ETERNAL LIFE AND THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH *** 

The wall behind the altar is of polished Rosso Porfirico marble from near Udine in northeastern Italy.

Facing the door, on the wing wall projecting from the right, is the sculpture SACRIFICE carved 

in Italian Bianco Caldo stone, designed by Henry Kreis and executed by Pietro Bibolotti. Below and 

to its left is this inscription from Shelley's ode "Adonais": "HE HAS OUTSOARED THE SHADOW 

OF OUR NIGHT."

To the left of the altar are the United States national flag and Christian and Jewish chapel flags. 

Projecting from the east wall above the pews are the flags of combat arms, viz. Infantry, Field 

Artillery, Navy Infantry Battalion, Air Corps and Armor. Beneath the flags is this prayer: 

ALMIGHTY GOD, RECEIVE THESE THY HEROIC SERVANTS INTO THY KINGDOM.

The ceiling is of Moroccan cedar; the pews and prie-dieu are of walnut. Three flower boxes of 

teakwood, with bronze appurtenances, are located under the west windows of the chapel.

North of the chapel, down a flight of steps from the cloister, is the memorial garden with its pool; 

the plants include latana, poinciana, pink geraniums and a Jerusalem thorn tree (Parkinsonia aculeate). 

Beyond is the graves area.
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Oasis in Center of Graves Area

THE GRAVES AREA

The 2,833 headstones in the rectangular graves area are divided into nine plots designated A to I. They 

are arranged in rectangular lines harmonizing with the rectangular composition of the cemetery and 

memorial. The 2,841 burials in the cemetery include 240 Unknowns.

These Dead who gave their lives in their Country's service came from all of the States except 

Hawaii and from the District of Columbia; a few came from foreign countries. Among the headstones 

is one which marks the tomb of seven Americans whose identity is unknown; also two adjacent 

headstones mark the graves of four men whose names are known but whose remains could not be 

separately identified; a bronze tablet between these graves records their names. Also in this cemetery, 

in three instances, two brothers are buried side by side.

In the burial area are four fountains and pools of Roman travertine, which with their surrounding 

vegetation of rosemary, oleander, and pink geraniums form small and welcome oases in this frequently 

hot climate.

The paths are lined either by India laurel fig (Ficus nitida) or California pepper trees (Schinus 

molle). The border massifs contain a wide variety of trees and shrubs in which oleanders and hibiscus 

are predominant.
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VISITORS' BUILDING

On the west facade of the Visitors' 

Building is this inscription taken from 

General Eisenhower's dedication of the 

Golden Book now enshrined in St. Paul's 

Cathedral in London:

HERE WE AND ALL WHO SHALL 

HEREAFTER LIVE IN FREEDOM 

WILL BE REMINDED THAT TO 

THESE MEN AND THEIR 

COMRADES WE OWE A DEBT TO 

BE PAID WITH GRATEFUL 

REMEMBRANCE OF THEIR 

SACRIFICE AND WITH THE HIGH 

RESOLVE THAT THE CAUSE FOR 

WHICH THEY DIED SHALL LIVE.

Within the Visitors' Building is a Roman 

mosaic discovered in the region and 

donated in 1959 by President Bourhguiba of Tunisia to Ambassador G. Lewis Jones, who in turn 

presented it to the cemetery. 
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PLANTINGS

The grass in the cemetery is kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum). It can sustain the heat of this region 

with minimum water.

The entire graves and memorial areas are surrounded beyond the inner walls by massifs of trees 

and shrubbery in which these predominate: pyramidal cypress

(C. pyramidalis), aleppo pine (P. halepensis), eucalyptus (E. gomocephala), cassowary (Casuarina 

tenuissima), Moreton Bay fig (Ficus macrophilla), goldenwattle acacia (Acacia pycnantha), as well as 

weaver's broom (Spartium junceum) and some 3,000 oleanders.