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ARLINGTON, Va. — The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) has commemorated a nameless American soldier who fell during World War I with a ceremonial burial at the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery (OAAC) in France.
This ceremony, marked by full military honors, concludes a year-long journey of exhumation and identification of the soldier’s nationality to offer a final resting place. It is a landmark event, being the first interment of an unidentified American from WWI at OAAC since 1988, and the first burial in the cemetery since 1932.
Key figures like Chief of Staff of the Army James C. McConville, ABMC Commissioner and retired U.S. Navy Fleet Master Chief Raymond Kemp paid homage during the ceremony, which included a WWI-era 75mm artillery salute, a historic WWI biplane flyover, an honor guard procession, and burial.
In 2022, the presumed remains of a WWI soldier were unearthed during excavation in a cemetery in Villers-sur-Fère, France. Collaborative efforts from local and national French officials, ABMC OAAC Cemetery Superintendent Bert Caloud, and eminent Great War archaeologist Yves Desfossés, led to comprehensive excavation and analysis.
The found artifacts include a 1917 steel helmet used by American troops, U.S. uniform insignia buttons, a model 1917 U.S. trench knife, a U.S.-issue stretcher, remnants of a round U.S. identity tag, and U.S.-issue 30.06 ammunition dated 1917.
Despite not being able to positively identify the soldier, after comprehensive analysis, the remains were confirmed as that of an American serviceman.
The unknown soldier’s burial in the OAAC symbolizes the continued camaraderie between France and the U.S. and pays tribute to the unknown soldier’s valor. The cemetery, located about 4 kilometers from where the remains were discovered, is the final resting place for more than 6,000 American service members who perished in the area during World War I.
The soldier was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, symbolizing his sacrifice for the U.S. military. The discovered artifacts will be preserved at the nearby Chateau-Thierry Monument by the ABMC.
Source: US Army
