Received this exhaustive email from my friend Ray Merriam. Very informative! Thanks Ray! 
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I just spent over an hour examining the ABMC web site and it is an impressive site, well designed, with an amazing amount of information. Until now I was unaware of much of what the ABMC does, or the number of cemeteries and other sites they maintain. This site is well worth a visit this Memorial Day weekend--or any day for that matter.
Ray
The American Battle Monuments Commission, established by the Congress in 1923, is an agency of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government.
The Commission—guardian of America’s overseas commemorative cemeteries and memorials—honors the service, achievements and sacrifice of United States Armed Forces.
The Commission’s commemorative mission includes:
* Designing, constructing, operating and maintaining permanent American cemeteries in foreign countries.
* Establishing and maintaining U.S. military memorials, monuments and markers where American armed forces have served overseas since April 6, 1917, and within the U.S. when directed by public law.
* Controlling the design and construction of permanent U.S. military monuments and markers by other U.S. citizens and organizations, both public and private, and encouraging their maintenance.
ABMC Commissioners
The authorizing legislation for the American Battle Monuments Commission (36 U.S.C., Chapter 21) specifies that the president will appoint 11 members to the commission and an officer of the regular Army to serve as the secretary. President George W. Bush appointed BG (Ret) Nicholson to serve as secretary in January 2005. There currently are no appointed commissioners.
Brigadier General John W. Nicholson, USA (Ret) -- Secretary
General Nicholson was appointed secretary of ABMC by President George W. Bush in January 2005. Prior to this appointment, he served as Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs in the Department of Veterans Affairs, where he directed the National Cemetery Administration. He is a 1956 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., where he received the General MacArthur Leadership Award for his class, and holds a master’s degree in public administration. He is an airborne ranger combat infantryman and served two and one-half years with infantry units in Vietnam. Other overseas assignments during his 30-year Army career included duty in Germany, Korea, Lebanon and Switzerland.
History
Recognizing the need for a federal agency to be responsible for honoring American armed forces where they have served and for controlling the construction of military monuments and markers on foreign soil by others, Congress enacted legislation in 1923 establishing the American Battle Monuments Commission.
In performing its functions, the Commission administers, operates and maintains on foreign soil 24 permanent American burial grounds, and 25 separate memorials, monuments and markers, including three memorials in the United States. Presently there are 124,909 American war dead interred in these cemeteries, of which 30,921 are from World War I, 93,238 are from World War II and 750 from the Mexican War. Additionally, 6,177 American veterans and others are interred at the Mexico City National Cemetery and the Corozal American Cemetery. Commemorated individually by name on stone tablets are 94,135 American servicemen and women who were Missing in Action or buried at sea in their regions during the World Wars and the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
Final disposition of World War I and World War II remains was carried out under the provisions of Public Law 389, 66th Congress and Public Law 368, 80th Congress, respectively. These laws entitled the next of kin to select permanent interment of a loved one's remains on foreign soil in an American military cemetery designed, constructed and maintained specifically to honor in perpetuity the dead of those wars, or to repatriate the loved ones remains to the United States for interment in a National or private cemetery.
The programs for final disposition of remains were carried out by the War Department's American Graves Registration Service under the Quartermaster General. From time to time, requests are received from relatives asking that the instructions of the next of kin at the time of interment be disregarded. Those making such requests are informed that the decision made by the next of kin at the time of interment is final. Often, on seeing the beauty and immaculate care of the Commission's cemetery memorials, these same individuals tell us later that they are now pleased that the remains of their loved ones have been interred in these overseas shrines.
World War I Commemorative Program
The Commission's World War I commemorative program consisted of four major engineering programs:
* erecting a nonsectarian chapel in each of the eight burial grounds on foreign soil that were established by the War Department for the dead of that war;
* landscaping each of the cemeteries;
* erecting 11 separate monuments and two tablets elsewhere in Europe; and
* constructing the Allied Expeditionary Forces World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C.
In 1934, a Presidential Executive Order transferred the eight World War I cemeteries to the Commission and made it responsible for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of future permanent American military burial grounds located in foreign countries.
World War II
By the end of World War II, several hundred temporary burial grounds had been established by the U.S. Army on battlefields around the world. In 1947, 14 sites in foreign countries were selected to become permanent burial sites by the Secretary of the Army and the American Battle Monuments Commission. The location of these sites correspond closely with the course of military operations. These permanent sites were turned over to the Commission after the interments had been made by the American Graves Registration Service in the configuration proposed by the cemetery architect and approved by the Commission. After the war, all temporary cemeteries were disestablished by the War Department and the remains were permanently interred in accordance with the directions of the next of kin. In a few instances, the next of kin directed that isolated burials be left undisturbed. When doing so, the next of kin assumed complete responsibility for the care of the grave.
Like World War I cemeteries, the use of the World War II sites as permanent military burial grounds was granted in perpetuity by each host country free of charge or taxation. Except in the Philippines, burial in these cemeteries is limited by agreements with the host country to members of the U.S. armed forces who died overseas during the war. American civilian technicians, Red Cross workers and entertainers serving the military were treated as members of the armed forces in determining burial entitlement. The agreement with the Republic of the Philippines permitted members of the Philippine Scouts and the Philippine Army units that fought with the U.S. armed forces in the Philippines to be interred in the Manila American Cemetery. All of the Commission's World War I and World War II cemeteries are closed to burials except for remains of American war dead still found from time to time in the battle areas. This policy is dictated by agreements with the host countries concerned.
World War II Commemorative Program
The Commission's World War II commemorative program consisted of:
* constructing 14 permanent American military cemeteries on foreign soil;
* constructing several monuments on foreign soil; and
* constructing four memorials in the United States.
In addition to their landscaped graves area and nonsectarian chapels, the World War II cemeteries contain sculpture, an area with battle maps and narratives depicting the course of the war in the region, and a visitors reception area. Each grave site in the permanent American World War I and II cemeteries on foreign soil is marked by a headstone of pristine white marble. Headstones of those of the Jewish faith are tapered marble shafts surmounted by a Star of David. Stylized marble Latin crosses mark all others. Annotated on the headstones of the World War I servicemen who could not be identified is: "HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD." The words "AMERICAN SOLDIER" were changed to "COMRADE IN ARMS" on the headstones of the unidentified of World War II.
Commission Structure
The policy making body of the Commission consists of 11 commissioners who are appointed by the President of the United States for an indefinite term and serve without compensation. They meet with the professional staff of the Commission twice annually. The Commission has 391 full time civilian employees. Sixty-nine full time civilian employees are U.S. citizens; all but 18 of them are located overseas. The remaining civilian employees are foreign nationals from the countries where the Commission installations are located.
There are two regional offices that oversee operations in Europe and the Mediterranean, one in Paris, France and one in Rome, Italy. The superintendents of the Mexico City, Corozal, and Manila cemeteries report directly to the ABMC headquarters. Superintendents and their assistants are selected for their administrative ability; knowledge of horticulture; knowledge of vehicle, equipment and structural maintenance; knowledge of construction; and their ability to show compassion and tact when dealing with the public.
Chairmen
General of the Armies John J. Pershing was appointed to the newly-formed Commission in 1923 by President Warren G. Harding and was elected chairman by the other members. He served as chairman until his death in 1948, at which time he was succeeded by General George C. Marshall. Following General Marshall's death in 1959, General Jacob L. Devers became chairman. He was succeeded by General Mark W. Clark in 1969. General Clark died in 1984 and General Andrew J. Goodpaster was elected the following year. General P. X. Kelley succeeded General Goodpaster in 1991. General Frederick F. Woerner became chairman in 1994. General Kelley returned to the Commission in August 2001, succeeding General Woerner. Upon General Kelley's resignation from the Commission in 2005, General Frederick M. Franks, Jr., assumed the chairmanship.
Cemeteries
The Commission administers, operates, and maintains 24 permanent American burial grounds on foreign soil. Presently there are 124,909 U.S. war dead interred at these cemeteries, 30,921 of World War I, 93,238 of World War II and 750 of the Mexican War. Additionally 6,177 American veterans and others are interred in the Mexico City and Corozal American Cemeteries.
Aisne-Marne, France
Ardennes, Belgium
Brittany, France
Brookwood, England
Cambridge, England
Corozal, Panama
Epinal, France
Flanders Field, Belgium
Florence, Italy
Henri-Chapelle, Belgium
Lorraine, France
Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Manila, Philippines
Meuse-Argonne, France
Mexico City, Mexico
Netherlands, Netherlands
Normandy, France
North Africa, Tunisia
Oise-Aisne, France
Rhone, France
Sicily-Rome, Italy
Somme, France
St. Mihiel, France
Suresnes, France
The cemeteries listed above are links to info about that cemetery as foundon the American Battle Mountments Commission web site, from which all of the material in this message has been taken. There are also videos and PDFs of booklets that provide more info about the cemeteries. In particular check out the Normandy cemetery link--in addition to the cemetery video, there is one with footage of the D-Day invasion, some of it in color, plus a very impressive interactive map of the Normandy invasion and campaign (you have to see this one for yourself--I can't even begin to describe it).
Memorials
The Commission administers, operates and maintains 25 memorials, monuments or markers. To learn more about them, click on the Memorials link.
Three memorials in Washington, D. C., also were established by the Commission, but are now administered by the National Park Service. To learn more about these three memorials, click on AEF Memorial, Korean War Memorial, and World War II Memorial.
This video presents a brief narrated tour of some of the monuments and memorials maintained worldwide by the Commission.
monuments.wmv - windows media video ( 28.27 MB )
Audenarde Monument
Belleau Wood Monument
Bellicourt Monument
Cabanatuan Memorial
Cantigny Monument
Chateau-Thierry Monument
Chaumont Marker
East Coast Memorial
Guadalcanal Memorial
Honolulu Memorial
Kemmel Monument
Montfaucon Monument
Montsec Monument
Naval Brest Monument
Naval Gibraltar Monument
Pointe du Hoc Monument
Papua Marker
Saipan Memorial
Santiago Surrender Tree
Sommepy Monument
Souilly Marker
Tours Monument
Utah Beach Monument
West Coast Memorial
Western Task Force Marker
The following maps are available:
Eastern France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg
Western France and England
Italy and Southern France
Central Pacific - Hawaii and Guadalcanal
Western Pacific - Philippines and New Guinea
Services
Each year millions of American and foreign citizens visit ABMC cemeteries and memorials. The commission receives thousands of inquiries yearly, many seeking to facilitate visits or locate individual grave sites. ABMC provides the following services to requestors:
* Name, location, and information on cemeteries and memorials.
* Plot, row and grave number or memorialization location of Honored War Dead.
* Best in-country routes and modes of travel to cemeteries or memorials.
* Information on accommodations near cemeteries or memorials.
* Escort service for relatives to grave and memorial sites within the cemeteries.
* Letters authorizing fee-free passports for members of the immediate family traveling overseas to visit a grave or memorialization site.
* Black and white photographs of headstones and Tablets of the Missing on which the names of dead or missing are engraved.
* Arrangements for floral decorations placed at graves and memorialization sites.
* An Honor Roll Certificate containing data on a Korean War casualty suitable for framing.
* Digital color photographs of donated floral decorations in place.
The Andrews Project
The commission also provides friends and relatives of those interred in its cemeteries or memorialized on its Tablets of the Missing with color lithographs of the cemetery or memorial on which is mounted a photograph of the headstone or commemorative inscription. The Andrews Project, named in honor of its sponsor, the late Congressman George W. Andrews, is ABMC’s most popular service.
We can assist you in your planned visit to any of our sites, can arrange for the placement of floral decorations at an individual's grave or marker, and can give you information on any individual buried or honored at our cemeteries or memorials.
For More Information
1. You may contact us by e-mail at info@abmc.gov
2. You may write to:
American Battle Monuments Commission
Courthouse Plaza II, Suite 500
2300 Clarendon Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22201
3. You may call: (703) 696-6900
Memorial Day Activities
Memorial Day programs are held at each ABMC Cemetery. Each gravesite is decorated with the flag of the United States and that of the host country. Programs usually include participation by the U.S. Ambassador to the host country, a reading of the President's Memorial Day Proclamation, speakers, the presentation of the National Colors, wreath laying ceremonies, and military bands and units.
A picture of people at a Memorial Day ceremony
2009 Memorial Day Ceremony Schedule
To see the 2009 schedule of Memorial Day ceremonies at ABMC cemeteries overseas, click here.
D-Day Commemorative Ceremonies - June 6
President Obama will participate in the Commemoration of the 65th Anniversary of D-Day at Normandy American Cemetery on June 6. Admission to the cemetery will be by invitation only. Applications for invitations are being handled by the U.S. Embassy staff in Paris, France.
For more information and to request invitations, please visit http://france.usembassy.gov/ and click on the box that says "D-Day Commemoration-For American Citizens: Request for Invitations." It will provide an email address and a format. Requests must be received by May 28 to be considered.
Information on D-Day Commemorative Events planned by the Comite du Debarquement can be found through the link below.
D-Day commemorative events are planned annually by the French Comite du Debarquement (D-Day Landing Committee). To see the schedule of events commemorating this year's 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings, click here.
You may contact the Comite du Debarquement at:
Email: debarquement2@wanadoo.fr
Address: 4 rue du Bienvenu, B.P. 43402, F.14404
BAYEUX CEDEX
Phone: (33) 02 31 92 00 26
Fax: (33) 02 31 22 11 35
Are the remains of the war dead actually buried at the overseas American military cemeteries?
Yes, the remains of American war dead are buried at these cemeteries. The interment of remains of World War I and II war dead at permanent overseas American military cemeteries was made by the American Graves Registration Service, Quartermaster General of the War Department. When the interment program was completed the cemeteries were turned over to the American Battle Monuments Commission for maintenance and administration.
Do host countries charge rent or tax to use the land on which ABMC cemeteries are located?
No, use of the land was granted in perpetuity by the host country free of charge or taxation.
Who was eligible for interment at the overseas American military cemeteries?
Except for Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines, burial in ABMC cemeteries is limited by the agreements with host countries to members of the U.S. armed forces who died overseas during the wars. U.S. civilians serving with our armed forces and Red Cross workers and entertainers serving the military were treated as members of the armed forces for burial entitlement. The agreement with the Philippine government permitted members of the Philippine Scouts and Philippine Army units that fought with U.S. forces in the Philippines to be interred at Manila American Cemetery.
Can discharged veterans of the World Wars be interred at the overseas American military cemeteries?
No, ABMC does not provide veterans’ interment benefits. Unlike the national cemeteries administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, all permanent American military cemeteries on foreign soil are “closed” except for the remains of servicemen and women lost during the World Wars that may be found on the battlefields.
What information is inscribed on grave markers at these cemeteries?
The decedent’s full name, rank, date of death, unit, and state of entry into military service.
How can I locate the interment site of a decedent interred at an overseas American military cemetery?
This web site contains databases of the names of those interred or memorialized at the overseas American military cemeteries and memorials. The databases can be searched through the “Search ABMC Databases” links in the navigation bar to the left. Inquiries also can be sent to info@abmc.gov.
Why were the remains of some war dead repatriated to the U.S. for permanent interment and the remains of other war dead interred overseas?
Following World War I and II, the interment of the remains of war dead was carried out by the American Graves Registration Service, Quartermaster General of the War Department. At that time, the next of kin authorized to make the decision regarding their loved one’s interment was given the option of having the remains returned to the U.S. for permanent interment at a national or private cemetery, or permanently interred at the overseas American military cemetery in the region where the death occurred.
Can the remains of war dead interred at the overseas American military cemeteries be disinterred and repatriated to the U.S. for reburial?
The interments of World War I and World War II remains at the overseas American military cemeteries are permanent. It is no longer possible to repatriate the remains of those interred at these American military cemeteries. The program of final disposition of these remains was carried out by the American Graves Registration Service, Quartermaster General of the War Department under the provisions of Public Law 389, 66th Congress and Public Law 368, 80th Congress. It entitled the next of kin authorized to make disposition of the remains to select one of the following alternatives:
* Permanent interment in an American military cemetery on foreign soil specifically designed, constructed, and maintained in perpetuity as a memorial to American war dead.
* Repatriation of the remains to U.S. soil for interment in a national cemetery.
* Repatriation of the remains to the individual’s homeland or that of their next of kin for interment in a private cemetery.
A provision of the law terminated authority to make further disposition of remains on December 31, 1951, when the decision of the next of kin became final. The program of final disposition of war dead established the moral and legal obligation of the United States government to honor the expressed wishes of the next of kin authorized to make the decision regarding the permanent interment of their loved one’s remains.
How are war dead whose remains were non-recoverable or unidentifiable commemorated at overseas American military cemeteries?
War dead listed as missing in action, lost or buried at sea, or non-recoverable or unidentifiable are commemorated individually on Tablets of the Missing at the overseas American military cemetery closest to the region where death occurred, and on three memorials in the U.S.
What information about the decedent is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing?
The individual branches of the U.S. armed forces provided us with rosters of missing in action and lost or buried at sea. The data inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing includes the decedent’s full name, rank, branch of service or unit, date of death, and state from which the decedent entered military service.
Why is the inscribed date of death of the missing in action frequently different than the date on which the decedent was declared missing?
Without confirmed information to the contrary, a War Department Review Board established the official date of death of those missing as one year and a day from the date on which the individual was placed in missing status.
How can I determine if someone is interred or memorialized on Tablets of the Missing at an overseas American military cemetery?
Grave and memorialization information for those interred or memorialized at the overseas military cemeteries can be found in the World War I and II databases available on this web site. These Honor Roll databases can be searched by name, unit or state of entry into military service.
If the information in the database or inscribed on a grave or memorialization site is incorrect, how can I submit the correct information?
Send the information you believe to be correct, along with copies of verifying documentation, to the American Battle Monuments Commission, 2300 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 500, Arlington, VA 22201. We can also be reached by email at info@abmc.gov .
Will the government provide a grave marker for those listed as missing in action or lost or buried at sea for placement at the family cemetery?
The Department of Veterans Affairs administers the memorial marker program for those listed as missing in action, or lost or buried at sea. Upon request by a family member, and at no expense to the family, a memorial marker can be placed at any national cemetery, including Arlington National Cemetery, provided space is available. Memorial markers can also be placed at private cemeteries. However, when markers are placed in a private cemetery, the family must pay site and installation costs. Information about the memorial marker program is available from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Attn: Memorial Programs, 810 Vermont Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20420 or at www.va.gov.
Why can’t I locate certain names of war dead in your database?
Our databases contain only the names of those interred or memorialized at the overseas American military cemeteries and memorials under our care. These databases do not contain the names of war dead returned to the U.S. for permanent interment at national or private cemeteries.
How can I find interment information for a decedent whose remains were returned to the U.S. for permanent interment in a national cemetery administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs?
Information is available from the Department of Veterans Affairs, National Cemetery Administration at http://gravelocator.cem.va.gov/j2ee/serlet/NGL_v1. Additional information may be available from the following organizations:
* For casualties of World War I, information may be available from the National Archives at inquire@nara.gov or by mail at the National Archives, Modern Military Records Branch, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001.
* For casualties of World War II, information may be available from the Department of the Army, U.S. Human Resources Command, Attn: Public Affairs, 200 Stovall Ave., Alexandria, VA 22332, which administers the individual deceased personnel files for all U.S. World War II dead regardless of the branch of service in which the decedent was serving at the time of death. The U.S. Army Human Resources Command can be reached by email at foia.hrc@conus.army.mil.
Where can I find information regarding domestic cemeteries?
Lists of cemetery interments by country, state and region—including military cemeteries—are available online at http://interment.net.
Where can I find information regarding a veteran who did not die during the war in which he or she served?
The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration holds the records of all discharged military personnel. Veterans and next of kin of deceased veterans can order copies of records online at www.archives.gov/research_room/obtain_copies/veterans_service_records.html. Inquiries from other than veterans and family members must be submitted in writing to the National Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel Records Center, 9700 Page Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63132.
How can I locate a veteran?
We do not maintain records relating to discharged veterans of the U.S. armed forces. You might find the information you are seeking by placing an advertisement in veterans magazines that have special reunion columns, or by using “People Finders” search engines through the internet.
Where can I find listings of the casualties of a particular war?
The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration maintains online listings of casualties from various conflicts, sorted alphabetically by state and location. NARA also has listings related to prisoners of war. You can access the information online at http:///www.archives.gov/search/index.html.
Where can I find casualty statistics for all U.S. wars?
The Department of Defense Statistical Information Analysis Division, online at http://www.dior.whs.mil/mmid/casualty/castop.htm.
How can I find information about awards and decorations?
For personnel who served in the U.S. Army or Air Force (including the Army Air Forces), the National Personnel Records Center, 9700 Page Blvd., St. Louis, MO can verify awards to which a veteran is entitled and forward the request with verification to the appropriate service department for issuance of medals.
Mail your request to the National Personnel Records Center, Medals Section (NRPMA-M), 9700 Page Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63132-5100. Additional information is available at The National Archives web site.
How do I find out what my relative did while in military service?
You should start by identifying the unit with which your relative served. If you already have that information, then you should check for unit histories or look into the official records created by the unit. If you do not know the unit, try to obtain a copy of your relative’s military personnel records to determine that information.
Where can I find information about a particular military unit?
An extensive unit history library is maintained by the U.S. Military Institute at Carlisle Barracks, Carlisle, PA 17013. Some unit histories can be obtained through the inter-library loan system. However, many of the unit histories are not available for inter-library loan due to their rarity or condition. You may also wish to investigate out-of-print or used military book dealers. The Institute’s web site is http://www.carlisle.army.mil.
[Many of the Merriam Press veteran memoirs are in this collection, purchased by the USMI for inclusion. --Ray]
The Department of the Army, Center of Military History also has information regarding Army units. The Center of Military History website is www.army.mil/cmh. Although the web site contains much information, it is not interactive, so inquiries from the public must be made in writing. The address is Department of the Army, Center of Military History, DAMH-HSO, 103 Third Ave., Ft. McNair, Washington, DC 20319-5058.
Where can I find official Army unit morning reports and other records?
The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel Records Center, 9700 Page Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63132, is the official custodian of the records that have been retired by the U.S. Army. General information about records can be found on that agency’s web site at http://archives.gov. Records are at two different physical locations depending on the time period in question.
* Prior to 1939: Military Reference Branch, National Archives, 8 th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC 20408.
* From 1939 onward, including units that served in Southeast Asia: National Archives, Textual Reference Branch, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740.
Where can I find information about the recipients of the Medal of Honor?
Visit the Center of Military History web site at: http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/Moh1.htm.
Where can I find historical information about the armed services?
Each branch of the armed forces has a historical center at the following addresses:
* U.S. Army, Center of Military History, DAMH-HSO, 103 Third Avenue, Ft. McNair, Washington, DC 20319-5058, http://www.army.mil/cmh/.
* U.S. Air Force History Support Office, AFHSO/HOS, 200 McChord St, Box 94, Bolling AFB, Washington, DC 20332-1111, http://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/.
* U.S. Air Force Historical Research Agency, 600 Chennault Circle, Maxwell AFB, AL 36112-6424, http://www.au.af.mil/au/afhra/.
* U.S. Air Force Museum, 1100 Spaatz St., Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433-7102, www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/.
* U.S. Marine Corps Historical Center, Bldg 58, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC 20374, http://www.usmc.
* U.S. Navy Historical Center, Building 57, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC 20374, http://ww.history.navy.mil.
* U.S. Coast Guard Historian’s Office, http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/collect.html.
Where can I find information on unit patches and insignia?
For information on all heraldic items, flags, patches, insignia, etc., contact the Institute of Hearaldry, 9325 Gunston Road, Room S-112, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060. the Institute’s web site is at http://www.perscom.army.mil/tagd/tioh/tioh.htm.
Where can I obtain court martial records?
Contact the Office of the Clerk of the Court, U.S. Army Judiciary, Attn: JALS-CCO, 901 North Stuart Street, Suite 1200, Arlington, VA 22202-1837.
Are there any permanent overseas American military cemeteries from the Korean or Vietnam Wars?
No, all recoverable remains from the Korean and Vietnam Wars were returned to the U.S. for interment at national or private cemeteries.
How can I locate the burial site of Korean War dead whose remains were returned to the U.S. for interment?
The Department of the Army, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Public Affairs, 200 Stovall St., Alexandria, VA 22332; email at foia.hrc@conus.army.mil; telephone 703-325-4053 can provide the interment sites of Korean War dead.
Are the war dead of the Korean and Vietnam Wars that are listed as missing in action, lost or buried at sea, or unidentified memorialized at an ABMC site?
Yes, the names and other personal data of the Korean and Vietnam War missing in action or lost or buried at sea are commemorated individually by name on Tablets of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial co-located with the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (the Punchbowl) in Hawaii.
Can names of discharged Korean War veterans be included in the Korean War Honor Roll database at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC?
The Korean War Veterans Memorial honors all members of the U.S. military that served during the period of the Korean War, but the Honor Roll database contains only the names of those who died world-wide during the war.
How can I provide an additional name or other information and a photograph for inclusion in the Korean War Veterans Memorial Honor Roll?
Send information and photographs to the American Battle Monuments Commission, 2300 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 500, Arlington, VA 22201, or to info@abmc.gov.
What government agency is responsible for accounting for U.S. POWs and MIAs?
The best resource for researching American POWs and MIAs is the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office. You can search a variety of databases related to these issues on their web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo, or you can call (703) 699-1155 or (703) 699-1199.
My family member was a prisoner of war or among those of World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War that are listed as missing in action. Is the Department of Defense attempting to reach family members?
Yes, the Department of Defense is requesting that family members contact the casualty office for the branch of service in which the decedent was serving at the time of being placed in POW or MIA status. The service casualty offices are compiling family member databases for use if remains of missing are located. The military casualty offices can be reached at:
* U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Attn: LTC Jay R. Schuneman, AG, Chief, Repatriation and Family Affairs, 200 Stovall St., Room 4S15, Alexandria, VA 22332-0482; email: Jay.Schuneman@hoffman.army.mil; telephone: 703-325-5305.
* U.S. Air Force Casualty Matters Division, Air Force Personnel Center, 550 C Street West, Suite 14, Randolph AFB, TX 78150-4716; email at pow-mia@randolph.af.mil; telephone: toll free at 800-531-5501.
* U.S. Marine Corps Casualty Office, 3280 Russell Road, Quantico, VA 22134; email: hattie.y.Johnson@usmc.mil; telephone: toll free 800-847-1597.
* U.S. Navy Casualty Office, 5720 Integrity Drive, Millington, TN 38055-6210; email: Kenneth.terry@navy.mil; telephone: toll free 800-443-9298.
Is ABMC involved with private memorials?
We control the design and construction of U.S. military monuments and markers in foreign countries by other U.S. citizens and organizations, both public and private, and encourage the maintenance of such monuments and markers by their sponsors.
What are private memorials?
For most ABMC purposes, a private memorial is a permanent war monument or marker commemorating the sacrifices of the American armed forces erected by any American person or entity. For purposes of the Memorial Trust Fund Program it does not include any memorial or marker erected by any agency of the United States Government. A private monument generally has some architectural significance (structure, sculpture, window, etc), while a marker is generally a plaque attached to a building or other monument, or a simple object that marks a road, route, boundary, or site.
What are isolated graves?
After each World War, the next of kin of Americans who were killed overseas were given the choice of what to do with the remains of their loved ones. The remains could be repatriated for burial in a cemetery in the U.S., they could be buried in a permanent ABMC cemetery overseas, or they could remain where they lay. While about 61 percent of the remains were returned to the U.S. and 39 percent were buried in ABMC cemeteries, several hundred families chose not to disturb the remains. These isolated graves can be found in town cemeteries, the war cemeteries of our allies, or even in the fields where they fell throughout Europe.
Why are many private memorials so run down?
ABMC receives no funds to maintain private memorials; we can only encourage sponsoring organizations or local towns to maintain them. In many cases private memorials are beautifully maintained. However, if there is no sponsoring organization or if the local town does not take an interest, these monuments can fall into disrepair.
What can ABMC do to help maintain private memorials?
We have several programs to help maintain private memorials:
* The Private Memorials Trust Fund Program allows a sponsoring organization to set up a trust fund with us and we then maintain the memorial for as long as there are funds available in the trust.
* We can hire a caretaker for a sponsoring organization, using the sponsor’s funds, and supervise the caretaker’s work.
* We can provide technical advice regarding the maintenance of the memorial.
* We maintain a database of private memorials that includes locations, sponsors, local contacts, and maintenance status.
And, as a last resort, we have the authority to destroy private memorials that fall into such disrepair that they become a safety issue or an eyesore.
Searchable databases for WWI, WWI, Korean War and Other Burial Listings are available at the ABMC web site.
From:
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"