Never to be Forgotten: Soldiers of the Meuse-Argonne

Shown in the visitor center at Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, this film, through historic and modern-day imagery, and recollections from letters, gives a clearer perspective of the true cost of war. The film touches on the intense fighting of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. It discusses how family members had to select repatriation to the United States for burial, or permanent interment in an American, overseas cemetery. It covers the Gold Start Mother Pilgrimages that gave women the opportunity to visit their son or husband’s burial location overseas. The film also includes details about how African American women were treated during these pilgrimages.
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The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) operates and maintains 26 cemeteries and 32 federal memorials, monuments, and commemorative plaques in 17 countries throughout the world, including the United States. Since March 4, 1923, ABMC’s sacred mission remains to honor the service, achievements, and sacrifice of more than 200,000 U.S. service members buried and memorialized at our sites.
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#military #cemetery #memorial #worldwar1 #ww1 #history #usarmy #soldier

[@crazygame2724]

My Grandfather was severely wounded in the Meuse Argonne offensive. He told my mother that he had many of his friends shot by Germans with telescopic rifles. He hated the British. They left them out there for three days without rations. He was hit by German shrapnel which clipped off fingers off his left hand and perforated his left arm and shoulder. He lived to 1964, dying at 69 years of age. I met him as a child. Tough old man. God Bless him and all the others.

[@billashby7858]

When I was a boy, our neighbor, John Vickers, was a vet of WWI and was wounded at Meuse-Argonne. He was a member of the Rainbow Division, and I remember sitting on his back porch talking to him about his time in the US Army!

[@schwinnstingrayguy3757]

My grandfather survived this terrible event with the 33rd. Very proud of him

[@chuckmicheals8127]

My great uncle, Nicolas Meyer died in this battle and is buried in this cemetery. My wife and I visited the grave a few years ago to remember and pay our respects. The cemetery is a fitting tribute to so great a loss.

[@kilcar]

My uncle, Forest Floyd Woods, barely survived the Meuse. He was with the 58th Division, US army . He was wounded by machine gun, in the right upper arm and the left upper leg. Surviving infection. I remember him well as I was filmed with him on a hot summer day with an 8 mm film camera when he showed me his long healed arm wound. He died in 1966 in Portland Oregon.

[@davidolien2828]

This cemetery demonstrates our nation’s respect for its fallen soldiers. My great uncle John Olien of the 6th Michigan engineers was killed October 20,1918 and was initially buried here until his siblings brought him home. I visited this cemetery and the locale of his sacrifice near the village of Cunel, a short distance from this cemetery. Unfortunately very few Americans visit this cemetery, our largest overseas. These soldiers deserve to be remembered.

[@jamesbiel4774]

I don't intend no disrespect David but I thought this was a good place to say something about the lack of respect our nation shows/ has shown for its living soldiers. Meaning in particular using "the race card" and having those, only those soldiers do the terrible job of disinterring the bodies and then re-burying them. What a opportunity missed: to work together, to share the labor, to unite the service. Maybe it was a long time ago. So what? We can be so blind sometimes.

[@Thomas-uw3fp]

I agree 100%

[@pts5217]

I had a great uncle who fought in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. He made it home but was apparently shell-shocked the rest of his life. Never married, no children, and hardly ever even spoke.

[@michaeln7407]

It took 100 years, but I had the honor of being the first member of my family to visit the final resting place of my great great uncle Albert, who was critically wounded on the second day of fighting during the Argonne Offensive (Sept 27, 1918). Forever grief stricken, Albert’s mother was unable to ever make the trip to France to say her final “goodbye” to her son. Thank you to the people of France and the American Battle Monuments Commission for taking such amazing care of our loved ones. May they never be forgotten.

[@sfstoltenberg]

My great-grandfather, Otto Henry Stoltenberg, fought in this battle with the 165th infantry regiment of the 42nd "Rainbow" Division. Luckily for me and many of my family members, he survived. Had he been killed, I and many others would not have existed. Thinking of all of the people that never existed because of war is truly heart breaking. His parents emigrated to the US from Germany about 30 years before the war. It is hard to imagine what it was like for him to fight against Germans, potentially some relatives.

[@needmorecowbell6460]

I had two relatives who fought in WWl… my American grandfather who was an Army sergeant fighting in the Meuse-Argonne and survived the war and his wifes cousin (my British grandmother) fought in the somme, 1st, 2 and third battle of Ypres and was KIA/MIA in the battle of Passchendeale. He was a Pte. (Pvt) in the British Army Wiltshire Regiment 6th Battalion and only 19yrs old.

[@robertwalton7307]

I have a Great Uncle buried there.KIA Sept 13,1918. 26th Yankee Division.I visited the cemetery in 2014. It is off the beaten track but so well worth the visit. It is awe inspiring and kept in perfect condition. The surrounding areas are still are still scarred from "The War to end Wars" The Germans left it alone in WW2. The ABMC should be proud of the work they do keeping these brave men and women from being forgotten.

[@tommyodonnell9]

My Uncle was also in the Yankee Division, KIA 11/11/18. Buried in Section D.

[@TerryHarpole-kp2rj]

Thanks for posting this. There was a man from my area, who is buried there

[@clusterguard]

Never Forgotten. Never.

[@johnsteijns5394]

They should NEVER BE FORGOTTEN

[@mattheweisele9808]

I just found out my great grandfather survived this battle was swrved with the tabk corps here and in saint-mihiel under Patton. Cant imagine what he and all of these brave soldiers went through, but from some of the footage we had so very many losses on all sides.

[@CraigMathison]

I have visited this cemetery twice, though, as far as I know, I have no relative buried there. Those visits have spurred me to learn more about the Meuse-Argonne offensive. This cemetery is a somber tribute to the price of freedom and the sacrifice made by those who buried there.

[@ronalddownham6470]

My grandfather lost his foot in that battle and had his leg amputated by pieces eight times before he got home.

[@massmanute]

My grandfather's brother was killed near the end of WW I and buried at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

[@prmath]

🙏🇺🇸RIP, Heroes and I most respectfully Salute All of you warriors🇺🇸🙏

[@pmccoy8924]

My great grandfather Major Milton C. Portmann Sr survived this battle. Ultimately mustered him out. He took a shot to his backside. 353 Inf 89th D Comp E. Awarded the SS. Very proud of his service.

[@markjones1819]

My Great-uncle Corporal Harold L.F. Packman, 2nd AA MG Bat., lies there with his comrades.

[@docholliday6285]

Beautiful. A fitting tribute to those called to serve and gave their all.

[@wendymudkins6870]

God bless them all for their sacrifice

[@erikroelinkcitizen2302]

Lovely document, i was there last year. It's peaceful and respectful.

[@CJ87317]

Wonderful

[@Edward-ko9pn]

Excellent video thank you.

[@Rase-iwnl-]

Amazing video

[@smathew257]

Awesome documentary.

[@PuffKitty]

RIP Lester R Corey from Gaston Illinois. I'm sorry you didn't make it home 🕯️ (by happenstance I bought a postcard off eBay that belonged to him; it was addressed to him while he was in basic in Georgia 😔)

[@tomnook4048]

The largest and bloodiest battle in American history, and its forgotten.

[@alexmclean760]

Actually Gettysburg is the record holder

[@coderr_]

Largest bloody battle for ww1 for america

[@coderr_]

@@alexmclean760 i think battle of bulge

[@gunrunner1446]

In just 47 days, the fight for the Meuse River and Argonne Forest in northeast France claimed the lives of 26,277 American soldiers. That's far more deaths than the better known Battle of the Bulge (19,276 fatalities in 1944 and 1945) and Gettysburg (7,058, both Union and Confederate, killed in 1863).

[@ted.angell7609]

I visited here last year. The whole area is fascinating.

[@drsackbarry]

How Many Tears Have Fallen Tears so many have fallen Through the years for the Greatest Nation ever Tears for life liberty the pursuit of happiness For a free world Tears for the sons and daughters that never returned home Warrior soldiers all Tears wiped from the cheeks of so many wives Shed by the children with only faint memories Tears behind the mother's veil On father's handkerchief Tears at the base of the white stone That wet the flowers and flags Tears at the sound of taps played in the distance For the memories of buddies Tears at the sight and sound of dog tags boots Empty Tears when the aircraft flyover Stars shining brightly Tears as the ships sail Anchors aweigh Tears for those that patrol Guard the dark nights alone Tears at roll call With no reply to a name called How many tears have fallen Bless Them All Dr. Sack 5/30/2021

[@mn4056933]

Never knew this place excited, my Dad died in the Pacific war front!

[@neilsherman2680]

The allied efforts for victory over tyranny, at the sacrifice of life is well memorialized in the poem”In Flanders Field” written by a Canadian surgeon, John McRae. It applies fittingly to the American Army soldiers at Meuse-Argonne, even minus the red poppies. Honor to the fallen, rest in peace.

[@letsgocubs1282]

Time will not dim the Glory of their Deeds. RIP ❤

[@LowCountryMack]

It would seem that people of the world would learn from war, and the tremendous sacrifice that comes with it. 100 years later the lesson remains to be taught. The price the same...

[@justcause3254]

Swindell Mack. We have. Today, war is fought on a much smaller scale. Instead of 10, 20, 30 thousand soldiers dying in a single day, a modern firefight might have zero to a handful of casualties. Battlefield medicine has advanced so rapidly that once was a fatal wound, is not only survivable, but gives some measure of quality life. All modern technology is a by-product of military technology, trickled to civilians. But, most importantly, we have learned that there has always been war. Always. And always will be.

[@epictime6560]

Why does this video have dislikes?

[@stephengiannone5449]

Liberal.

[@curtc2194]

Women?...how were they involved?

[@jiveassturkey8849]

Nurses. There are 6 women buried at Meuse Argonne.

[@phishENchimps]

Men and Women? how many women?

[@CJ87317]

I believe seven women are at Meuse-Argonne.

[@bmorebidness207]

6 women.

[@9879SigmundS]

Doesn't matter. You must bow at the alter of political correctness. . . always.

[@jackmorrison7379]

Why are you questioning the American battlefields Commission? Military nurses are buried there. A casualty in war is a casualty deservedly buried with the soldiers they cared for.

[@josiel152]

What woman?

[@9879SigmundS]

Wilson was the first president who wanted to socially engineer the U.S. and the world. We had no business in that war.

[@clarenceboggs2406]

Eddie Brahhh you forget that France was our Allie and helped us win our war of independence against the British

[@thatboibrian5942]

Anyone here go to legacy?

[@burtonlee22]

Sorry, how many men? How many women? How many AEF volunteers and conscripted men??

[@hughsmith7850]

We did not have to be in this war.....

[@mr.p2742]

Rest in peace german defenders. (I know that the video footage is from America)

[@westpointsnell4167]

Ilias Tsolakis how about i rest in peace ...

[@westpointsnell4167]

Ilias Tsolakis I won't think twice about it

[@tommyodonnell9]

German defenders...in France...

[@docholliday6285]

German defenders? Give me a break. Those vermin were the aggressors and the reason for such carnage. Pffft.

[@brianmarshall6097]

Not bad but women didn't fight in WW1

[@CJ87317]

They served as nurses in the war, and if they died were given the option of being buried in those cemeteries as well. I believe seven are at Meuse-Argonne.

[@collinhennessy6480]

They served as nurses and some were killed.

[@jackmorrison7379]

What are you, some gamer kid? learn the history. There was an American ambulance Corps in France EVEN BEFORE we entered the First World war with Americans serving as volunteers in support of France and Britain. After we were in American women served as military nurses. All who died are our heroes or heroines..

[@The_PaleHorseman]

Nothing glorious about dying in war.

[@paulschab8152]

No, there is nothing glorious about war, but the fallen gave their last full measure of devotion for us. Politics and opinions aside, they gave the ultimate sacrifice. War graves are the great communicators of peace.

[@earlhamlette7030]

No but it great to die for something bigger then your selfish self, you don't even know history, read it and you will know why these men and women died for.......if you don't know God knows.

[@jackmorrison7379]

Tell that to the families and Gold Star mothers.

[@BiggHogg870]

men and women...just say men for crying out loud. Quit with pc crap.

[@tomnook4048]

K Mckivey about 7 women are buried there

[@lastnamefirstname9695]

Show some damn respect man. This has nothing to do with PC. Generations of humans were erased from life, this is where they rest. Men, woman and children.

[@allend2749]

a-men brother a-men

[@johnt.kennedy3856]

Your a dick.

[@hodaka1000]

Well shall not forget. Trump didn't want to get wet to honour them. We shall not forget. Trump didn't want to get wet.

[@edmonddantes9135]

There was a credible security threat.

[@CJ87317]

To be fair, this wasn't the cemetery Trump was going to visit. Still doesn't excuse him not going though.

[@cc9z]

it is disrespectful of the men and women that gave there all to say 45 name here

[@tommyodonnell9]

Nice try...that was a side trip on November 10. Security said no because rain prevented air transport. Trump delivered the 100th anniversary speech, as scheduled, on November 11 at the Suresnes Cemetery.

[@tommyodonnell9]

@@CJ87317 That was a side trip on November 10. He delivered, as scheduled, the 100th anniversary speech on November 11.

[@stinkypete891]

Dying for the very wealthy.

[@thomasfoss9963]

So true-to protect the wealthy--and to bring honor back to the fodderland!!!!!!!!!!

[@jackmorrison7379]

Unlike you they had ideals and courage and patriotism and the willingness to do something larger than themselves. Unlike the mouthy nobodies of You Tube, whose biggest challenge is getting a job to get out of mom's basement.

[@gerald4133]

Price of Freedom in Europe. They gave all.🌹