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Title: American military cemetery in Margraten, Holland (Netherlands)
Source:
Find a Grave
URL Source: http://www.findagrave.com/forums/ub ... php?ubb=showflat&Number=400492
Published: May 09, 2008
Author: Ralph_84
Post Date: 2009-05-25 10:01:48 by Deasy
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Keywords: WWII, Fallen, Air Corps
Views: 232
Comments: 17
Ssomewhat more than 26 hectares of land formerly used for agricultural purposes - was liberated on 13 September 1944 by units of the 30th Infantry Division from the First American Army during their push to the Ruhr in the German Ruhr region. This cemetery was one of the first in which American soldiers who fell in action in Germany were buried. The Ninth American Army opened the cemetery for use on 10 November 1944. The Dutch government had previously taken possession of the ground and made it available for this purpose in perpetuity. In no fewer than 40 instances, two brothers were buried side by side, and one gravestone marks the shared gravesite of two unknown soldiers. The identity of 106 fallen soldiers could not be determined with any degree of certainty. The Memorial Square, bordered on the east by the tower and with the 'mirror pond' in the middle, displays on its walls - in addition to the names of the places where the most important battles in the area took place - the name, rank, unit and state of 1722 MIAs (missing in action) from the Army and Air Force. Poster Comment: Posted on request. Many more pictures are at the site on that thread. See also: And also: http://www.303rdbg.com/cem-netherlands.html Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten Cemetery
The cemetery is divided into 16 sections - A to P. The sections are separated by the promenade leading to the flagpole and by grass paths. The 8301 gravestones - bearing a Star of David for members of the Jewish faith and a Latin cross for all the others - are arranged in parallel curves. Most of the 8302 fallen soldiers - who came from every state in the USA, the District of Columbia, Britain, Canada and Mexico - gave their lives during the airborne and ground-based operations carried out to liberate the eastern part of the Netherlands, during the push through Germany across the Ruhr and the Rhine, and in the air battles over these areas. About 43% of these soldiers, who were originally temporarily buried either here or at other cemeteries in the area, have found their final resting place in Margraten. Vegetation
The vegetation in and around the cemetery was selected with great care. The promenade is flanked on both sides by characteristic American oak trees. Rhododendrons have been planted around the cemetery, and they bloom exuberantly every year around 'Memorial Day'. 
The American Cemetery at Margraten
(74 Graves - 40 Names on Wall of Missing) 
Name Rank Serial No State Death Date Grave ARTER, JOHN R TSGT 14081231 Florida Nov 26, 1943 MIA ATKINSON, GERALD V SSGT 34814970 Alabama Apr 10, 1945 MIA BALES, ROSS C CAPT 0438503 Idaho May 14, 1943 MIA 
BALL, WARREN G SGT 37677248 Iowa Sep 28, 1944 L 5 6 BARNHILL, WILBUR R 1LT 0670073 Louisiana Nov 26, 1943 MIA BARRY, JOHN K SGT 32983857 New York May 30, 1944 D 6 10 
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#1. To: Deasy (#0)
My brothers name is one of those engraved on the Wall of the Unknown. One of nearly a thousand.
The world's greatest trance DJs come from The Netherlands. There's a lot of positive energy coming out of that area today. The DJ Milo video track above above has pretty girls, a quiet back beat, and... sunlight.
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#2. To: Cynicom (#1)
#4. To: All, sun lovers everywhere, tom007, christine, Amandil, abraxas, FormerLurker, Refinersfire, mininggold (#2)
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