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douglas9

(4,473 posts)
Mon Jun 13, 2022, 11:20 AM Jun 2022

The American military graveyard in France that the Pentagon doesn't want you to see

Seventy miles northeast of Paris lies the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery and Memorial. Four plots fill the space, with one end featuring a large marble and granite Romanesque memorial dedicated to the Americans who died in combat in World War I and are buried on the grounds. But outside the well-landscaped space, across the street, through a thick wall of shrubbery, there is a fifth plot of graves. It’s one the military wants to keep quiet.

Oise-Aisne American Cemetery and Memorial’s Plot E is the final resting place for nearly 100 American servicemen who were executed during or just after World War II. Almost every single person buried there was convicted of murder or rape, the victims being fellow American service members as well as civilians from France, the United Kingdom and other countries. They were convicted in a court martial and sentenced to death, killed by either hanging or firing squad.

Although technically part of the wider cemetery grounds, it sits apart from the main space and is not advertised or acknowledged, by the facility or by the American Battle Monuments Commission. The cemetery does do upkeep on the grounds, but for the public, it is hard to enter. The only apparent doorway to the 100 foot by 50 foot graveyard is through an office on the cemetery’s grounds. The American flag is not allowed to fly over it, and even if one is able to get onto the space, the graveyard is minimal.

https://taskandpurpose.com/history/the-american-military-graveyard-the-pentagon-doesnt-want-you-to-see/

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The American military graveyard in France that the Pentagon doesn't want you to see (Original Post) douglas9 Jun 2022 OP
Time to tear down that wall... Karadeniz Jun 2022 #1
I was unaware. Ferrets are Cool Jun 2022 #2
When I place flags on the graves of veterans for Memorial Day, I never question their right 70sEraVet Jun 2022 #3
We do that around Memorial Day. DashOneBravo Jun 2022 #5
I was not aware of that DashOneBravo Jun 2022 #4

70sEraVet

(4,133 posts)
3. When I place flags on the graves of veterans for Memorial Day, I never question their right
Mon Jun 13, 2022, 01:28 PM
Jun 2022

to be honored. If its the grave of a Confederate soldier, I still place a US flag.
I never knew about graves at 'Plot E'. I'm guessing that they get no such honors.

DashOneBravo

(2,679 posts)
5. We do that around Memorial Day.
Tue Jun 14, 2022, 05:54 PM
Jun 2022

Two of graves are for soldiers whose bodies were not recovered.

I’d never thought about that but it’s probably a good thing for the family. It’s a civilian cemetery.

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