Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial
49.54 Acres – 5,255 Burials – 5,139 Latin Crosses – 116 Stars of David
424 Missing in Action – 69 Unknowns – 14 Sets of Brothers – 4 Medal of Honor
Dedicated July 23, 1956
Give light to them that sit in darkness, and guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:79
Peacefully sitting along the foothills of the Vosges Mountains, on a hillside overlooking the Moselle River you will find the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial. Resting within its low stone walls, are memorials to those who fought and died in battles across northeastern France to the Rhine River and into Germany during the winter of 1944-1945.
July 1944, Allied air attacks on the south of France began in order to make way for ground troops to land on the southern beaches. August 15, 1944, just two months after the landing at Normandy, US and Allied Forces land at the southern beaches of France from Cape Cavalaire to Agay. Troops began their march north eventually meeting up with French units who were moving westward. Continuing their push through the Rhone Valley, the US and Allied Forces had advanced 400 miles within a month and eventually met up with units moving in from Normandy on September 11, 1944, in Sombernon France. Ten days later the combined forces created a “solid line” that stretched to the Swiss border. Over the next several months, progress was slow and fighting was intense but the march toward Germany and the Rhine continued.
On September 21, 1944, the site where the cemetery now sits, the US 45th Infantry liberated the area and fifteen days later a temporary burial ground was established.
Upon the completion of the cemetery and memorial, it was formally dedicated on July 23, 1956.
The following information is a direct quote taken directly from the ABMC.gov website. I have chosen to include it in its entirety without any synopsis from me as to maintain its integrity.
“On the morning of 12 May 1958, 13 caskets draped with American flags were placed side by side under a canopy at the north end of the memorial in the cemetery. Each casket contained the remains of one Unknown serviceman from each of the thirteen permanent American military cemeteries established in the Atlantic Theatres of World War II. As soon as the caskets were in place, an honor guard took a position at attention about the canopy. When the invited dignitaries had arrived, General Edward J. O’Neill, Commanding General of the United States Army Communication Zone, Europe, walked slowly past the thirteen caskets, returned to the front of the canopy, picked up a wreath and proceeded to the fifth casket from the east and placed the wreath upon it. He then drew himself to attention and saluted as taps were played. The simple ceremony of selection terminated with the band playing “miserere”, as the pall bearers carried the Unknown selected by General O’Neil behind an honor guard to a waiting hearse. The hears, under escort, proceeded to Toul-Rosiers Air Base in France where the Unknown was flown to Naples, Italy and loaded aboard the destroyer USS Blandy. As soon as loading was completed, the USS Blandy departed Naples to rendezvous in the Atlantic with a US Naval Task Force carrying two other Unknowns, one from the Pacific Theatre of World War II and one from the Korean War. A similar ceremony to the one held at Epinal American Cemetery was conducted by the Commander of the Naval Task Force to determine which of World War II Unknowns would represent both the Atlantic and Pacific Theatres of that war. After the selection was made, the Task Force proceeded to Washington, D.C. where, on Memorial Day 1958, the World War II and the Korean War Unknowns joined the Unknown soldier of World War I at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.”
Court of Honor
A winding road leads up from the highway to a circular drive where the view of the Court of Honor and Memorial Building is visible to your left. Low walls made of Rocheret limestone from the Jura Mountains of eastern France encompass the area. The names of the 424 service members who are listed as Missing in Action are engraved on the walls. US Army/Army Airforce – 419 and US Navy – 5. These names reflect those whose remains were never recovered or not identified.
Appearing above the names is the inscription that reads:
“HERE ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF THE AMERICANS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY AND WHO SLEEP IN UNKNOWN GRAVES. IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR II 1941-1945. THIS IS THEIR MEMORIAL – THE WHOLE EARTH THEIR SEPULCHRE”
Memorial
Located in the center of the Court of Honor, is the memorial. It is a rectangular building with a chapel on one side and a museum on the other. In the center is a covered portico. Just like the walls that surround the Court of Honor, the exterior walls of the memorial are made of Rocheret limestone.
The exterior walls contain 2 large carvings.
One depicts the “European Crusades” during WWII featuring the US military, shoulder to shoulder ready to battle the enemy. The might of their force is on display with images of infantry, tanks, and paratroopers. While above it all is an eagle to symbolize US Army Air Force.
The second is “Survival of the Spirit”. In the center is a woman who holds a dying soldier in her arms while above the spirits of young men go up to toward an angel while trumpeted angles declare their sacrifice. Below are headstones made up of Latin Crosses and Star of David.
Carved into the north wall in both English and French:
“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”
Chapel Interior
From the portico, you pass through large oak doors then directly across from the entrance, is an apse that contains the altar. Above the altar is a large sculpture named, Angel of Peace. Inscribed on the left wall is “GIVE LIGHT TO THEM THAT SIT IN DARKNESS” and to the right “AND GUIDE OUR FEET INTO THE WAY OF PEACE” Luke 1:79. Also on each side of the apse, are two sets of flags. On the left is the US Army flag of 1775, the US flag and the US Marine Corps flag. To the right is the US Navy flag, US flag, and the US Air Force flag.
Interior walls are made of Savonniere French limestone and the ceiling is made of teakwood.
Museum Interior
The central focus of the museum is the mosaic map depicting the battle maneuvers of American and Allied forces from the landing in southern France on August 15, 1944, until they meet Allied troops from Normandy in Sombernon on September 11, 1944, then on into Germany. It measures 54’ long and 14’ high.
Constructed with colored glass, the map shows the “Spirit of Columbia” as she leads the Army, Navy and Air Forces. The “Angel of Victory” offers up a laurel branch while American and French flags emerge from the clouds and trumpets sound.
The border surrounding the maps include the emblems of military units that took part in the ground operations.
Graves Area
Out from the Memorial building is the grave area. The area is divided into two areas with a walking path lined with Sycamore trees and leads to a 75’ flag pole at the far end of the path. Each plot contains markers that are placed in a fan shape. Impeccable landscaped and maintained, plantings include English beech, Oriental cherry, redbuds, cedars, holly, and Red Glove roses. There are also two fountains, one in each grave area.
The use of the land for the cemetery was granted by the French government in perpetuity without charge or taxation.
Each grave has either a Latin Cross or a Star of David, made of white marble.
Epinal Highlights
Medal of Honor Recipients (4)
General Officer (1) – Brig. Gen. Edmund W. Searby
Women (4)
Chaplains (2)
Civilians (13)
Fighter Pilot Aces (3)
Tuskegee Airmen (2)
100/442nd Regiment (Japanese-American) (13)
Brothers (14 pairs) buried side by side
US Navy ,Navy Reserves (7)
Merchant Mariner (3)
Friends buried side-by-side (6 pairs)
Missing in Action now Recovered (11)
WWI Veterans who Served Again (2)
Epinal American Cemetery by the Numbers
Total Burials: 5,253
Stars of David (Jewish Faith) 116
Unknowns 67
Women 4
Civilians 13
Names on Wall of Missing 424
U.S. Army Burials 4,630
U.S. Army Air Forces Burials 533
Navy and Navy Reserves Burials 12
Merchant Marines Burials 3
Men with Distinguished Service Cross 43
Men with Legion of Merit 9
Men with Silver Star 340
Men with Multiple Silver Stars 16
Men with Distinguished Flying Cross 66
Men with Soldiers Medal 18
Men with French Croix de Guerre 20
We visited Epinal in September 2015. It was late in the day and we pulled into the cemetery just as they were beginning to close. In fact, the two people who were working that day were actually walking out the door to go home for the evening. Once they realized we had been traveling all day to get to the cemetery, they decided to stay for a few minutes to allow us to walk around. It was rainy and chilly but we bundled up to take a quick walk around. Even in the rain, the view of the cemetery was breathtaking. We quickly realized that we were going to need more than just a few minutes to experience the cemetery properly, so we went back to the employees, thanked them for staying but told them we would be back in the morning. We searched for a nearby hotel, stayed the night and went back to the cemetery the next day.
Thankfully it wasn’t raining anymore, but everything was still damp. Luckily though, this added to its beauty. The wet pavement shined and the raindrops were still clinging to the rose petals. The fog was gently lifting over the river and just seemed to hang in the trees. It was so quiet. There was no car noise, there was no talking. All you could hear was the sound of water still dripping from the trees from the rain the night before.
As I stood there, I thought to myself how once this land was full of gunshots, planes flying overhead, death and destruction was now so full of peace, quiet, and beauty. These men and women who now are laid to rest here deserve that peace.
I encourage you to visit Epinal American Cemetery if you ever find yourself in eastern France. Located within a few hours from Paris, Strasbourg and Zurich it is easily accessible by car or train. I promise you it will touch you with its beauty and be humbled by its sacrifice
Medal of Honor Recipients
Victor L. Kandle – First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Division
- Medal of Honor Citation
- Silver Star, Purple Heart
Gus J. Kefurt – Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division
- Medal of Honor Citation
- Silver Star, Purple Heart
John D. Kelly – Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, 314th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division
- Medal of Honor Citation
- Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
Ellis R. Weicht – Sergeant, U.S. Army, 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division
- Medal of Honor Citation
- Bronze Star, Purple Heart
Credits
Virginie Benoit-Erhard, Epinal Cemetery Associate
Things to do and see nearby
Alsace Wine Route
- Colmar, France – 1.5 hours by car
- A well-preserved town founded in the 9th century with cobbled streets, wooden homes and canals.
- Eguisheim, France – 1.5 hours by car
- Cobblestone streets, half-timbered houses, and castles.
- Strasbourg, France – 2 hours by car
- Located in the Grand Est region of France, it is the largest city in the area.
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