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Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery

and Memorial

The American Battle Monuments Commission
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Meuse-Argonne 

American

Cemetery

And

Memorial

LOCATION

The Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery is the largest American military cemetery in 

Europe. It is located just east of the village of Romagne-Gesnes, Meuse, France, 

approximately 26 miles/42 kilometers northwest of Verdun.

Verdun can be reached by train from the Gare de I’Est in Paris in approximately

3 1⁄2 hours. Taxicab service is available at the station to complete the trip to the cemetery.

Romagne-Gesnes can be reached by automobile from Paris (152 miles/245 kilometers) 

via toll Autoroute A-4 or highway N-3 Ste-Menehould, continuing on N-3 to Clermonten Argonne which is 19 miles/31 kilometers south of the cemetery, and continuing via 

Varennes. Hotel accommodations are available in Verdun and Dun-sur-Meuse.

The cemetery and the American monument at Montfaucon, Meuse, France, about 

seven miles/11 kilometers south of the cemetery, are included in most battlefield tours 

commencing in Verdun. Thirty-eight miles/61 kilometers to the west of the Meuse-
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Cemetery Entrance

Argonne American Cemetery is the Sommepy Monument located on Blanc Mont; this 

monument commemorates the actions of American and French troops in the Champagne 

region preceding and during the period of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

Location of Cemetery Features

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.
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Aerial View of Cemetery

HISTORY

The Meuse-Argonne Offensive was the climax toward which the efforts of American 

Expeditionary Forces were directed since arrival of U.S. troops in France. It would be 

the largest battle ever fought by U.S. troops up to that time in U.S. history.

In 1918, the last year of the war, the armies of Germany launched a series of 

powerful attacks on the Western Front in an attempt to win a decisive victory before large 

numbers of American troops could be brought into action. The enemy assaults initially 

were highly successful and taxed Allied resources to the limit. Nevertheless, when the 

last great German offensive began on 15 July, Allied troops in heavy fighting quickly 

repulsed it. Three days later on 18 July, a U.S.-French counteroffensive was launched at 

Soissons. It was completely successful and marked the turning point of the war.

Determined to keep the Germans on the defensive and to maintain the initiative in 

battle, a series of strong offensive operations were planned by the Allies. The U.S. First 

Army was organized and given the mission of attacking in the St. Mihiel sector. The 

purpose of the St. Mihiel Offensive was to keep the enemy off balance, allowing him no 

opportunity to reorganize. Its plan required an assault on 12 September to reduce the 

German salient at St. Mihiel, followed two weeks later by a great offensive in a different 
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Overall View of the Cemetery

area 40 miles away. Never before on the Western Front had a single army attempted 

such a colossal task. Four days after the St. Mihiel Offensive began, the German salient 

was eliminated.

The area between the Meuse River and the Argonne Forest was chosen for the U.S. 

First Army’s greatest offensive of the war because it was the portion of the German front 

which the enemy could least afford to lose. The lateral communications between German 

forces east and west of the Meuse were in that area and they were heavily dependent 

upon two rail lines that converged in the vicinity of Sedan and lay within 35 miles of the 

battle line.

The nature of the Meuse-Argonne terrain made it ideal for defense. On the left, the 

heavily wooded and tangled Argonne Forest and the Aire River presented natural 

obstacles. On the right, the Meuse River and the Heights of the Meuse River to the east 

formed not only natural barriers but also gave the enemy commanding ground from 

which it could observe the battlefield and cover it with artillery fire.

In between the Aire and the Meuse Rivers were a series of broken, wooded ridges 

that provided excellent observation. The first was the dominating hill of Montfaucon. 

Behind it were the Heights of Romagne and Cunel; beyond them was Barricourt Heights. 

To protect this vitally important area, the enemy had established almost continuous 

defensive positions for a depth of 10 to 12 miles to the rear of the front lines.

The movement of American troops and materiel into position for the MeuseArgonne attack was made entirely under the cover of darkness. On most of the front, 

French soldiers remained in the outpost positions until the very last moment in order to 
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keep the enemy from learning of the large American concentration. Altogether, about 

220,000 Allied soldiers were withdrawn from the area and 600,000 American soldiers 

brought into position without the knowledge of the enemy, a striking tribute to the skill 

and abilities of the U.S. First Army.

Memorial Chapel

Following a three-hour bombardment with 2,700 field pieces, the U.S. First Army 

jumped off at 0530 hours on 26 September. On the left, I Corps penetrated the Argonne 

Forest and advanced along the valley of the Aire River. In the center, V Corps advanced 

to the west of Montfaucon but was held up temporarily in front of the hill. On the right, 

III Corps drove forward to the east of Montfaucon and a mile beyond. About noon the 

following day, Montfaucon was captured as the advance continued. Although complete 

surprise had been achieved, the enemy soon was stubbornly contesting every foot of 

terrain. Profiting from the temporary holdup in front of Montfaucon, the Germans pured 

reinforcements into the area. Even so, by 30 September, the U.S. First Army had driven 

the enemy back as far as six miles in some places.

The assault of the U.S. First Army was renewed on 4 October. Enemy forces 

continued its stubborn resistance, as additional German divisions arrived from other 

battle fronts. Though the U.S. First Army was subjected to furious counterattacks, its 

advance proceeded relentlessly. On 7 October, a strong flanking attack by I Corps on the 

left in the Aire Valley made capture of the Argonne Forest possible. The next day on the 

right, U.S. troops crossed the Meuse River, where severe fighting was encountered for 
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possession of the heights beyond. On 9 October, V Corps began an attack in the center 

aided by III Corps on its right; both Corps then penetrated the Hindenburg Line.

It seemed on 14 October that the Allied assault would develop into another 

prolonged struggle, as the enemy continued to resist stubbornly. The III and V Corps, 

however, provided relief when they broke through the German main line of defense and 

seized the Heights of Cunel and Romagne. On the left, I Corps captured St. Juvin and 

Grand-Pre, enabling the French Fourth Army, which was positioned to the left of the U.S. 

First Army, to advance its attack.

Chapel Entrance

The final chapter of the great offensive by the U.S. First Army began at daybreak 

on 1 November after a two-hour concentrated artillery preparation. Its progress exceeded 

all expectations. By early afternoon, the formidable position on Barricourt Heights had 

been captured, ensuring success of the whole operation. That night the enemy issued 

orders to withdraw west of the Meuse. By 4 November, after an additional crossing of 

the Meuse by the U.S. First Army, the enemy was in full retreat on both sides of the river. 

Three days later, when the heights overlooking the city of Sedan were taken, the U.S. 

First Army gained domination over the German railroad communications there, ensuring 

early termination of the war.

Meanwhile in mid-October, the U.S. Second Army was formed to take command of 

the St. Mihiel sector on the right of the U.S. First Army. In response to a directive that 

offensives be initiated and sustained all along the entire Allied front, the U.S. First and 

Second Armies both launched attacks on 10 November and made substantial gains. So 
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perilous was the enemy position that it was compelled to seek an immediate armistice, 

which became effective on 11 November 1918.

To echo some of the words of General John J. Pershing, Commander-in-Chief of 

the American Expeditionary Forces, inscribed on the Montfaucon Monument:

THE MEUSE-ARGONNE OFFENSIVE (IN WHICH OVER 1,000,000 AMERICAN 

SOLDIERS FOUGHT) WAS SUDDENLY CONCEIVED, HURRIED IN PLAN AND 

PREPARATION, COMPLICATED BY CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITH A 

PRECEDING MAJOR OPERATION YET BRILLIANTLY EXECUTED AND 

PROSECUTED WITH AN UNSELFISH AND HEROIC SPIRIT OF COURAGE AND 

FORTITUDE THAT DE MANDED EVENTUAL ICTORY. IT STANDSOUT AS ONE 

OF THE VERY GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN 

ARMS.

SITE

The cemetery, 130 1⁄2 acres in extent, was established 14 October 1918 by the American 

Graves Registration Service on terrain captured by the 32nd Infantry Division. The use 

of the land on which it rests has been granted by the French government free of charge or 

taxation in perpetuity, as an expression of its gratitude to the United States. In 1943, 

administration of the cemetery passed to the American Battle Monuments Commission. 

The Commission, whose functions are described in the latter pages of this booklet, 

landscaped the cemetery grounds and erected the memorial chapel and other structures.

ARCHITECTS

The architects for the cemetery and memorial were York and Sawyer of New York, New 

York.

GENERAL LAYOUT

The cemetery is generally rectangular in shape with three-quarters of its area devoted to 

the grave plots and memorial chapel.

The memorial chapel is located on the high ground to the south. A grassy east-west 

entrance mall 600 yards long runs through the small valley across which the cemetery is 

located separating the graves and memorial area from the Visitors’ Building and service 

area. There is an impressive entrance portal to the cemetery at each end of the east-west 

mall and a circular pool with a fountain at the center. This attractive pool with its 

goldfish and flowering lilies is a constant source of interest to visitors. A road bordered 

by a double avenue of beech trees runs from each portal and encircles the mall. A 

perimeter road encircles the graves area and the service area. Four rectangular grave 

plots are located on each side of the mall leading from the pool to the memorial chapel. 

The grave plots are framed by squaretrimmed linden trees. These trees are especially 

beautiful in the fall when their leaves are changing color. Over 65 varieties of evergreen 
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shrubs and trees plus many varieties of flowers complete the tranquil beauty of this 

cemetery. A stone wall more than 1 1⁄2 miles long encircles the cemetery.

THE MEMORIAL

The memorial, a fine example of Romanesque architecture, faces north on the crest of a 

gently sloping hillside overlooking the graves area. It consists of a memorial chapel and 

two flanking loggias, on whose walls are engraved the names of those servicemen and 

women missing in the area and also those missing in northern Russia. The memorial’s 

exterior walls and columns are of Euville Coquiller stone; its interior walls are of 

Salamandre travertine.

High above the main entrance to the chapel, on the exterior wall, is carved the 

following:

DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY.

On the lintel directly over the chapel entrance is inscribed: IN SACRED SLEEP 

THEY REST. A sculpture bas-relief by L. Bottiau, Paris, France, with figures 

representing Grief and Remembrance appears above it in the tympanum. The beautiful 

bronze filigreed screen of the imposing entrance doors was cast by Henry Hope and Sons, 

Birmingham, England. Alongside the door, carved heads of American soldiers are 

included in the design of the column capitals. Across the ends and front of the loggias 

above the arches are names of places famous in the history of the American fighting in 

the region:

PONT-MAUGIS – BOIS-DE-CUNEL – MEUSE – CIERGES – BOIS-DES-RAPPES –

CONSENVOYE – EXERMONT – GRAND-PRE – MEUSE HEIGHTS –

BARRICOURT-HEIGHTS – GESNES – MONTFAUCON – CORNAY – BOIS-DEFORET – STENAY – ARGONNE – CHEPPY – COTE-DE-CHATILLON.

Inside the chapel on the wall above the right entryway is the inscription:

THIS CHAPEL IS ERECTED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS A 

SACRED RENDEZVOUS OF A GRATEFUL PEOPLE WITH ITS IMMORTAL 

DEAD.

The same text appears in French on the wall above the left entrance.

On entering the chapel, one’s attention is immediately drawn to the apse, in the 

center of which is the altar backed by a semi-circle of flags of the United States and the 

principal Allied nations.
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The insignia of many of the American divisions and large units which served in the 

AEF are reproduced in its stained glass windows which were executed by Heinigke and 

Smith, New York, New York. Shown in the window of the west wall are:

I CORPS, GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, III CORPS, 1ST DIVISION, ADVANCE 

SECTION S.O.S., 30TH DIVISION, 3RD DIVISION, 7TH DIVISION, 35TH DIVISION, 

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TH DIVISION, 26TH DIVISION, 32ND DIVISION, 4TH DIVISION, 28TH DIVISION, 

36TH DIVISION, 6TH DIVISION, 29TH DIVISION, 37 TH DIVISION, 2ND DIVISION, 

27TH DIVISION AND 33RD DIVISION.

The window of the east wall includes:

IV CORPS, FIRST ARMY, V CORPS, 41ST DIVISION, 80TH DIVISION, 88TH

DIVISION, 77TH DIVISION, 84TH DIVISION, 91ST DIVISION, 78TH DIVISION, 83RD

DIVISION, 90TH DIVISION, 89TH DIVISION, 85TH DIVISION, 92ND DIVISION, 42ND

DIVISION, 81ST DIVISION, 76TH DIVISION, 79TH DIVISION, 82ND DIVISION AND 

93RD DIVISION.

Through these windows a soft and subdued light is diffused throughout the chapel’s 

interior and blends with the deep colors of the marble floor.

On the arches over the door, apse and windows are the following inscriptions:

GOD HATH TAKEN THEM UNTO HIMSELF

THEIR NAMES WILL LIVE FOR EVERMORE

PEACEFUL IS THEIR SLEEP IN GOD

PERPETUAL LIGHT UPON THEM SHINES.

The memorial loggias flank the chapel. Engraved on a panel of the west loggia is 

an ornamental map, showing in color the operations of American divisions during the 

Meuse-Argonne Offensive. A similar map appears in the Montfaucon Monument; see 

page 17 of this booklet.
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Stained Glass Window in Chapel
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The names of 954 of the Missing who gave their lives in the service of their 

country, but whose remains were never recovered or identified are engraved on the 

remaining panels of the two loggias. Above the names high on the center panel of each 

loggia is inscribed:

Section of the Tablets of the Missing

THE NAMES HERE RECORDED ARE THOSE OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS WHO 

FOUGHT IN THE REGION AND WHOSE EARTHLY RESTING PLACE IS KNOWN 

ONLY TO GOD.
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The Chapel Altar

Included among them, but inscribed on a separate panel in the east loggia are the 

names of the Missing of the Service of Supply. At the top of the panel is the inscription:
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THE NAMES RECORDED ON THIS PANEL ARE THOSE OF AMERICAN 

SOLDIERS WHO DIED IN THE SERVICES OF SUPPLY DURING THE WORLD 

WAR AND HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVES.

Similarly, in the west loggia a separate panel carries the names of the Missing from 

the American expedition to Northern Russia under the inscription:

THE NAMES RECORDED ON THIS PANEL ARE THOSE OF AMERICAN

SOLDIERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN NORTHERN RUSSIA DURING THE 

WORLD WAR AND HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVES.

On the floors of the pavilions at the ends of the loggias are directional arrows 

pointing to prominent terrain features relating to the operations which took place in the 

area. Also, from the ends of the loggias one can see, in the distance to the southeast, the 

dominating hill of Montfaucon with its imposing federal monument.

Graves Area

GRAVES AREA

The graves area lies on the southern slope of the va lley and is divided into eight 

rectangular plots lettered from A to H. Each plot is surrounded by square-trimmed linden 
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trees. Plots A, B, E and F are located on the east side of the grassy mall extending from 

the chapel to the circular pool and fountain below and C, D, G and H are on the west. 

The carefully clipped grass of the mall and graves area gives the impression of a vast 

green velvet carpet.

14,246 War Dead are interred within the cemetery, 486 of whom are Unknowns. 

The cemetery contains no multiple burials. Each of the Dead has his own headstone of 

white marble, a Star of David for those of the Jewish faith and a Latin cross for all others. 

The immense array of headstones is arranged in long parallel rows beginning at the eastwest mall and extends row-on-row to the chapel crowning the ridge overlooking the 

graves area.

Exterior of the Visitors Building

VISITORS’ BUILDING

The Visitors’ Building is located to the north of the cemetery. Here visitors may obtain 

information, sign the register and pause to refresh themselves. During visiting hours a 

member of the cemetery staff is available in the building to answer questions and provide 

information on burials and memorializations in the Commission’s cemeteries, 

accommodations in the vicinity, travel, local history and other items of interest.
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The Montfaucon Monument

The imposing shaft of the Montfaucon Monument rises 200 feet above the ruing of 

the former hilltop village of Montfaucon and dominates the surrounding countryside. 

Before its capture by the American 37th and 79th Division on 27 September 1918, the site 

provided the German forces with excellent observation.

The monument commemorates the victory of the U.S. First Army in the MeuseArgonne Offensive, 26 September-11 November 1918, and pays tribute to the heroic 

services of the French Armies before that time on that battlefront.

Construction of the monument was completed in 1933; it was dedicated in 1937 by 

the President of the French Republic, Albert Lebrun.

Architect for the memorial was John Russell Pope of New York. The 180-foot 

massive shaft is of Baveno granite in the form of a Doric column and is surmounted by a 

figure symbolic of Liberty. It faces the U.S. First Army’s line of departure of 26 

September 1918. From the observation platform at the top, one can see most of the 

Meuse-Argonne battlefield.

The names of the four most important areas captured by American troops, MEUSE 

HEIGHTS, BARRICOURT HEIGHTS, ROMAGNE HEIGHTS AND ARGONNE 

FOREST, appear in large letters across the front of the monument.

On the wall surrounding the main terrace are listed the divisions which made up the 

U.S. First Army along with the names of three places now recorded in American military 

history, where each of the divisions encountered hard fighting.

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ST DIVISION, EXERMONT, COTE DE MALDAH, VILLEMONTRY; 2ND

DIVISION, LANDRES-ST. GEORGES, BEAUMONT, BOIS DES FLAVIERS; 3RD

DIVISION, BOIS DE CUNEL, CLAIRS CHENES, BOIS DE FORET; 4TH DIVISION, 
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Map of the Meuse-Argonne Region on the Northeast Wall of the Vestibule

SEPT SARGES, BOIS DE FAYS, BOIS DE FORET; 5TH DIVISION, CUNEL, DUNSUR-MEUSE, FORET DE WOEVRE; 26TH DIVISION, LE HOUPPY BOIS, LA 
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WAVRILLE, BOIS DE VILLE, 28TH DIVISION, ARGONNE, VARENNES, 

APREMONT; 29TH DIVISION, BOIS DE CONSENVOYE, MOLLEVILLE FARM, 

BOIS DETRAYE; 32ND DIVISION, COTE DAME MARIE, ROMAGNE, 

PEUVILLERS; 33RD DIVISION, BOIS DE FORGES, CONSENBOYE, BOIS PLATCHENE; 35TH DIVISION, VAUQUOIS, BAULNY, MONTREBEAU; 37TH DIVISION, 

BOIS DE MONTFAUCON, IVOIRY, BOIS BE BEUGE; 42ND DIVISION, COTE-DECHATILLON, BOIS DU MONT DIEU, SEDAN HEIGHTS; 77TH DIVISION, 

ARGONNE, ST. JUVIN, REMILLY-SUR MEUSE; 78TH DIVISION, GRAND-PRE, 

BOIS DE LOGES, TANNAY; 79TH DIVISION, MONTFAUCON, NANTILLOIS, 

CHAUMONT; 80TH DIVISION, DANNEVOUX, BOIS DES OGONS, BUZANCY; 

81ST DIVISION, MANHEULLES, ABAUCOURT, GRIMAUCOURT; 82ND DIVISION, 

CORNAY, MARGO, ST. JUVIN; 89TH DIVISION, BOIS DE BARRICOURT, 

POUILLY, STENAY; 90TH DIVISION, BANTHEVILLE, HILL 343, STENAY; 91ST

DIVISION, BOIS DE CHEPPY, EPINONVILLE, BOIS GESNES; AND THE 92ND

DIVISION, BOIS DE LA GRURIE, VALLEE MOREAU, BINARVILLE.

 In addition, the five French units which fought with the First Army and the two 

American divisions which were in reserve are commemorated:

10E D.I.C.(FR) DAMLOUP, BOIS DE LA PLUME, NOBRAS; 15E D.I.C. (FR), 

SIVRY-SUR-MEUSE, HARAUMONT, DAMVILLERS; 18E D.I. (FR), HAUMONT, 

BOIS DES CHENES, BOIS D’ORMONT; 26E D.I. (FR), BOIS DE CAURES, 

ANGLEMONT FERME, BEAUMONT; IN RESERVE, 6TH DIVISION, 36TH

DIVISION, 5E D.C. (FR).

On the paving of the main terrace in front of the entrance door, the following text is 

engraved in English and French:

ERECTED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO COMMEMORATE THE 

BRILLIANT VICTORY OF HER FIRST ARMY IN THE MEUSE-ARGONNE 

OFFENSIVE SEPTEMBER 26-NOVEMBER 11, 1918, AND TO HONOR THE 

HEROIC SERVICES OF THE ARMIES OF FRANCE ON THIS IMPORTANT 

BATTLEFRONT DURING THE WORLD WAR.

Inside the entranceway is a small vestibule decorated with the flags of the United 

States and France. On the northwest wall of the vestibule is a map of the Meuse-Argonne 

Offensive, carved in polished marble and indicating in color the operations of the various 

divisions in the area. Inscribed on the southwest wall is a brief description in French and 

English of the American operations:

DURING SEPTEMBER 1918 THE ALLIED FORCES LAUNCHED A GENERAL 

OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMIES ON THE WESTERN FRONT. IN 

THIS OPERATION THE AMERICAN FIRST ARMY WAS ASSIGNED THE TASK 

OF BREAKING THROUGH THE EXTREMELY STRONG AND VITAL PORTION 

OF THE ENEMY DEFENSIVE SYSTEM LYING BETWEEN THE MEUSE RIVER 

AND THE ARGONNE FOREST.
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THE AMERICAN ATTACKS STARTED ON SEPTEMBER 26 AND AFTER 

TWO DAYS INTENSE FIGHTING MONTFAUCON UPON WHICH THIS 

MONUMENT STANDS WAS CAPTURED. BY SEPTEMBER 30 TH ENEMY HAD 

BEEN DRIVEN BACK SIX MILES. THE GERMAN TROOPS DEFENDED EACH 

POSITION TO THE UTMOST AND MANY DIVISIONS WERE RUSHED TO THEIR 

SUPPORT FROM OTHER BATTLEFRONTS.

THE BATTLE CONTINUED THROUGHOUT OCTOBER AGAINST 

DESPERATE RESISTANCE. A BRILLIANT ADVANCE DOWN THE AIRE 

VALLEY MADE IT POSSIBLE TO OUTFLANK AND CAPTURE THE ARGONNE 

FOREST. THE ATTACK THEN SPREAD EAST OF THE MEUSE WHERE SEVERE 

FIGHTING OCCURRED. THE PROLOGNED STRUGGLES FOR THE STRONGLY 

FORTIFIED GERMAN MAIN LINE OF DEFENSE ON THE HEIGHTS NEAR 

BRIEULLES CUNEL AND ROMAGNE WERE UNSURPASSED IN FURY BUT BY 

OCTOBER 14 THIS LINE HAD BEEN BROKEN AND THE END OF THE MONTH 

FOUND IT AND THE VILLAGES OF ST. JUVIN AND GRAND-PRE SECURELY IN 

THE GRASP OF THE AMERICAN ARMY.

ON NOVEMBER 1 THE ARMY LAUNCHED ITS LAST GREAT ATTACK. 

THE DOMINATING HEIGHTS NEAR BARRICOURT WERE CAPTURED AND 

THE ENEMY WAS DRIVEN BEYOND THE MEUSE RIVER. THESE SUCCESSES 

AND THOSE OF THE ALLIES ON OTHER BATTLEFIELDS COMPELLED THE 

GERMANS TO ASK FOR AN IMMEDIATE ARMISTICE WHICH BECAME 

EFFECTIVE ON NOVEMBER 11, 1918.

DURING FORTY-SEVEN DAYS OF CONTINUAL BATTLE ON THIS FRONT 

THE FIRST ARMY ADVANCED 35 MILES CAPTURED 26,000 MEN 874 CANNON 

AND 3,000 MACHINE GUNS. AT ITS MAXIMUM STRENGTH THE ARMY 

COMPRISED MORE THAN 1,000,000 SOLDIERS. THE AMERICAN BATTLE 

CASUALTIES WERE 122,000.

A tribute by General Pershing to his officers and men who served here appears on 

the southeast wall. The text of General Pershing’s tribute reads:

THE MEUSE-ARGONNE BATTLE PRESENTED NUMEROUS DIFFICULTIES 

SEEMINGLY INSURMOUNTABLE. THE SUCCESS STANDS OUT AS ONE OF 

THE GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN ARMS. 

SUDDENLY CONCEIVED AND HURRIED IN PLAN AND PREPARATION; 

COMPLICATED BY CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITH A PRECEDING MAJOR 

OPERATION; DIRECTED AGAINST STUBBORN DEFENSE OF THE VITAL 

POINT OF THE WESTERN FRONT; AND ATTENDED BY COLD AND 

INCLEMENT WEATHER; THIS BATTLE WAS PROSECUTED WITH AN 

UNSELFISH AND HEROIC SPIRIT OF COURAGE AND FORTUTUDE WHICH 

DEMANDED EVENTUAL VICTORY. PHYSICALLY STRONG, VIRILE, AND 

AGGRESSIVE, THE MORALE OF THE AMERICAN SOLDIER DURING THIS 

MOST TRYING PERIOD WAS SUPERB. IN THEIR DEVOTION, THEIR VALOR, 

AND IN THE LOYAL FULFILLMENT OF THEIR OBLIGATIONS, THE OFFICERS 

AND MEN OF THE AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES HAVE LEFT A 

HERITAGE OF WHICH THOSE WHO FOLLOW MAY EVER BE PROUD.
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--John J. Pershing

 General, Commander-in-Chief,

 American Expeditionary Forces 

A circular stairway of 234 steps leads from the base of the shaft to observation 

platforms from which large portions of the Meuse-Argonne battlefield may be seen. 

Eleven of the thirteen landings on the stairs are provided with benches where visitors may 

pause to rest. Use of the monument site was given to the United States by the French 

Government in perpetuity, free of charge or taxation.

The area surrounding the monument is administered by the French Fine Arts 

Commission and is also of historical significance. The ruins upon which the monument 

is erected are believed to date back to the 6th century. Numberous battles have been 

fought in the vicinity. In one battle against the Normans about 888 A.D., 19,000 Dead 

are said to have been left on the battlefield. During the Hundred Years’ War, the district 

was frequently ravaged by robbers; and during the 16th and 17th centuries, the town was 

twice destroyed. While making excavations for the foundations of the monument, an 

underground passage hollowed out of the soft rock was found running from the ruins 

behind the monument to the foot of the hill. To the left of the monument shaft, as seen 

from the parking plaza and about 12 feet underground, a cemetery was found which 

probably dates from the Middle Ages. Under the front of the wall on the right side of the 

terrace, three old cellars were found, one below the other, the lowest one showing 

evidence of having been used as a dungeon.

The monument is open daily to the public from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm weekdays. 

From July 1 through September 15, the monument is also open on weekends. (The tower 

is closed on December 25 and January 1.) 
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The Sommepy Monument

The Sommepy Monument stands on the crest of Blanc Mont ridge, three miles/5 

kilometers north of Sommepy in the Department of Marne, 38 miles/61 kilometers from 

the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. The site on which the monument stands was 

captured on 3 October 1918 after heavy fighting by the American 2nd Division. The 

nearest cities are Reims – 22 miles/35 kilometers to the west and Chalons-sur-Marne – 23 

miles/37 kilometers to the south.

The monument commemorates the achievements of the 70,000 American soldiers 

who fought in the Champagne region of France during the summer and fall of 1918 and 

those of the French soldiers who fought with them.

The monument is in the form of a tower, its sturdy though graceful shape 

harmonizing with the surrounding landscape. The golden brown stones of different 

shades on its exterior give it a very attractive appearance.

Architect for the monument was Arthur Loomis Harmon of New York, New York.

Carved on the exterior walls are the dedicatory inscription and the insignia and names of 

the American Divisions which the monument commemorates with the inclusive dates that 

they served in this region and the names of four locations where each of the divisions 

participated in difficult fighting.

93RD DIVISION, SEPTEMBER 26-OCTOBER 6, 1918, RIPONT, SECHAULT, 

ARDEUIL, TRIERES FARM; 36TH DIVISION, OCTOBER 8-OCTOBER 27, 1918, 
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MACHAULT, DRICOURT, ST. ETIENNE-A-ARNES, FOREST FARM: 2ND

DIVISION, OCTOBER 2-OCTOBER 9, 1918, BLANC MONT, MEDEAH FARM, ST. 

ETIENNE-A-ARNES, ESSEN TRENCH; 42ND DIVISION, JULY 15-JULY 17, 1918, 

AUBERIVE-SUR-SUIPPES, ST. HILAIRE-LE-GRAND, SOUAIN, SPANDAU 

WOOD.

The dedicatory inscription is carved in both English and French below the eagle on 

the front face of the monument:

ERECTED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO COMMEMORATE THE 

ACHIEVEMENTS OF HER SOLDIERS AND THOSE OF FRANCE WHO FOUGHT 

IN THIS REGION DURING THE WORLD WAR.

Inside the tower, on a stone panel visible through the bronze grille of the door, is a 

brief description of the American operations in this vicinity:

IN EARLY JULY 1918 THE 42ND AMERICAN DIVISION ENTERED THE BATTLE 

LINES WITH THE 13TH AND 170TH FRENCH DIVISIONS NEAR SOUAIN. THERE 

IT GALLANTLY ASSISTED IN REPELLING THE LAST GERMAN MAJOR 

OFFENSIVE OF THE WAR.

WHEN THE ALLIES BEGAN THEIR GREAT CONVERGENT OFFENSIVE IN 

LATE SEPTEMBER, THE 2ND AND 36TH AMERICAN DIVISIONS WERE 

ASSIGNED TO THE FRENCH FOURTH ARMY. ON OCTOBER 3 THE 2ND

DIVISION, SUPPORTED ON THE LEFT BY THE 21ST FRENCH DIVISION AND 

ON THE RIGHT BY THE 167TH, IN A BRILLIANT OPERATION CAPTURED 

BLANC MONT RIDGE ON WHICH THIS MONUMENT STANDS. THE 36TH

DIVISION RELIEVED THE 2 ND ON OCTOBER 10 AND CONTINUED THE 

ADVANCE NORTHWARD AS FAR AS THE AISNE RIVER.

THREE INFANTRY REGIMENTS OF THE 93RD AMERICAN DIVISION, 

SERVING WITH THE 157TH AND 161ST FRENCH DIVISIONS, ENGAGED IN 

INTERMITTENT FIGHTING DURING SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER TAKING 

PART IN THE CAPTURE OF RIPONT, SECHAULT AND TRIERES FARM.

A flight of steps leads to an observation platform at the top of the structure where a 

fine view of the surrounding countryside is available and where directional arrows point 

out prominent terrain features.

The tower is open daily to the public from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm weekdays. From 

July 1 through September 15, the tower is also open on weekends. (The tower is closed 

on December 25 and January 1.)