American Cemetery
The American Cemetery: Meuse/Argonne
America's largest Cemetery in Europe
The small village of Romagne-sous-Montfaucon lies 42km north west of the town of Verdun. To its south is the American memorial at Montfaucon and to the west the Franco-American Memorial at Sommepy in Champagne.
Montfaucon
This enormous cemetery covering 52 hectares is open everyday of the year except 25 December and 1 January between 09:00 and 17:00 hours, staff are available in the visitors' building near the main entrance and fountain.
Like all American war cemeteries and monuments it is maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission.
The cemetery was established on 14 October 1918 in an area captured by the US 32nd Division.
It now contains the graves of 14 246, including 486 unknown soldiers.
Panels on the Memorial Chapel walls record the names of a further 954 missing.
As a comparison the WW2 D-Day Landings Cemetery in Normandy contains 9 386 graves.
The graves are divided up into eight separate plots each surrounded by linden trees.
Information on the location of a particular grave can be obtained from the visitors' centre.
The white marble crosses or Stars of David record the unit details of each casualty and their State.
Amongst the rows you may come across a Medal of Honor winner with the distinctive gold star and gold lettering.
Sgt Matej Kocak: Medal Of Honor
Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, 66th Company,
5th Regiment, 2nd Division.
Born: 31 December 1882, Gbely (Slovakia), Austria.
Joined up in: New York.
Grave: D 41 32
Citation
For extraordinary heroism while serving with the 66th Company, 5th Regiment, 2nd Division, in action in the Viller-Cotterés section, south of Soissons, France, 18 July 1918.
When a hidden machine gun nest halted the advance of his battalion, Sgt. Kocak went forward alone unprotected by covering fire and worked his way in between the German positions in the face of heavy enemy fire. Rushing the enemy position with his bayonet, he drove off the crew.
Later the same day, Sgt. Kocak organized 25 French colonial soldiers who had become separated from their company and led them in an attack on another machine gun nest which was also put out of action.
For his actions he received Both the Army & Navy Medals of Honor.
At the far end of the cemetery on the crest of the hill is the Memorial Chapel.
Within is a chapel of remembrance for private prayer and contemplation.
The stained glass windows either side of the altar show representations of the various Divisional and Unit Insignia of the American Expeditionary Force.
Emerging back into the light, the visitor is once again reminded of an enormous sacrifice.