Gun crew from Regimental Headquarters Company, 23rd Infantry, firing 37mm gun during an advance against German entrenched positions during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in 1918.

U.S. WWI Centennial Commission to attend

Centennial Ceremonies September 23 for Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Largest Battle in U.S. Military History 

By Chris Isleib
Director of Public Affairs, United States World War One Centennial Commission

WASHINGTON D.C. — The largest battle ever in the history of the U.S. military involved well over a million people, almost a thousand aircraft, and 400 tanks.

These troops attacked over a fifty mile-long front line – rushing in after a three-hour artillery bombardment, that expended more ammunition than was used in the entire Civil War.

During seven weeks of combat, wave after wave of American troops attacked against some 450,000 German soldiers from forty-four divisions.

The battle took a horrific human cost – over 122,000 American casualties. By its end, 26,277 Americans lost their lives in the battle, and 95,786 Americans were wounded.

Yet, this awful sacrifice was successful in its aim to help end World War I.

Today, the battle of Meuse-Argonne is not well known. However, the sacrifices are remembered, and will be honored by ceremonies in France, hosted by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) and supported by the U.S. Defense Department (DoD).

The Meuse-Argonne ceremonies take place at the ABMC’s Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery on Sunday, September 23rd. Specific information can be found here.
https://www.abmc.gov/news-events/events/world-war-i-centennial-luminary-meuse-argonne-american-cemetery#.W5IUT7puLZs

These commemoration events will include the cemetery’s traditional Luminary Event, a stunning tribute to those who served. As dusk falls at the cemetery, more than 14,000 headstones will be lit with candles, creating a powerful image of light overpowering the darkness.

Six commissioners of the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission will travel to France to participate in the events. These commissioners include history experts, multilingual communicators, and leaders for the commission’s programs, which include the new National World War I Memorial in Washington, DC. www.WW1CC.org/Memorial

Descendants of notable Americans who served in the battle will also attend, as guests of the Commission. They include:

• Ms. Sandra Pershing, granddaughter-in-law to General of the Armies John Pershing, Commander of the American forces in World War I
• Colonel Gerald York, USA (Ret.), grandson of legendary World War I hero, Sergeant Alvin York, a conscientious-objector who became a soldier, and earned the Medal of Honor for his efforts during the Meuse-Argonne battle
• Helen Patton, granddaughter to General George Patton, who fought in the Meuse-Argonne battle.

The WW1CC commissioners will also attend a related commemoration event hosted by the ABMC on Saturday, September 22nd at the American Cemetery at St. Mihiel, to honor the Americans there. Information on that ceremony can be found here: https://www.abmc.gov/news-events/events/world-war-i-centennial-ceremony-mark-st-mihiel-offensive#.W5JI8a2ZNsM

The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) is an independent agency of the United States government that administers, operates, and maintains permanent U.S. military cemeteries, memorials and monuments both inside and outside the United States. Information on the ABMC can be found at www.ABMC.gov

Each U.S. military branch is hosting its own series of events to commemorate the centennial of World War I. The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) coordinates those commemoration efforts. The OSD public affairs office can be reached at (703) 697-5131.

The U.S. Army Center of Military History, based at Fort McNair in Washington D.C., leads the U.S. Army’s World War I commemoration efforts in the United States and abroad through 2019. Information about their efforts can be found here https://history.army.mil/.

All Defense Department-produced digital media from the events -- including photos, interviews and videos -- will be uploaded to the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) on a daily basis. Media are encouraged to register for a free account with DVIDS in advance. Media can access and use all the digital material for free at the WWI Centennial feature page on DVIDS at www.dividshub.net/feature/WWICentennial.

Luminaries on the grave markers of Americans who died in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, at the Meuse Argonne American Cemetery in France.