ABMC

Today we remember WWI U.S. Army Pvt. Samuel A. Backer, buried at Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. Samuel Abraham Backer was born in Russia, now eastern Poland, near the Belarusian border. He immigrated to the United States alone in 1905 at age fourteen, joining his maternal uncle in New York. He enlisted in the Pennsylvania National Guard, became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1915, and completed his enlistment in April 1916. In June 1916, during the Mexican Border Emergency, Backer reenlisted and was deployed to the border, receiving an honorable discharge in April 1917. In August 1917, he sold his business and enlisted in the U.S. Army, reportedly inspired by wartime accounts from Russia. He later trained at Camp Dix with the 78th Infantry Division. Backer sailed for France in June 1918 and served throughout the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives. He operated under constant danger, evacuating wounded and gassed soldiers from the front lines to triage points and field hospitals. He was killed in action Nov. 4, 1918, just a few days before the war ended. In June 2026, in coordination with Operation Benjamin, his headstone at Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery was one of five to be changed from a Latin cross to a Star of David headstone Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery contains the graves of over 14,000 American service members, making it the largest American military cemetery in Europe from World War I. Most lost their lives during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the largest military operation in U.S. history at the time. Nearly 1,000 missing are memorialized on the Walls of the Missing. We remember their service and sacrifice. Discover Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in 360: bit.ly/4yTJw0O Learn more about the headstone exchange ceremony: bit.ly/4ykxigA

Today we remember WWII @USMC Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Robert A. Owens, buried at Manila American Cemetery. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with a marine division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during extremely hazardous landing operations at Cape Torokina, Bougainville Island, Solomon Islands, on Nov. 1, 1943. Forced to pass within disastrous range of a strongly protected, well-camouflaged Japanese 75-mm regimental gun strategically located on the beach, our landing units were suffering heavy losses in casualties and boats while attempting to approach the beach, and the success of the operations was seriously threatened. Observing the ineffectiveness of Marine rifle and grenade attacks against the incessant, devastating fire of the enemy weapon and aware of the urgent need for prompt action, Owens unhesitatingly determined to charge the gun bunker from the front and, calling on four of his comrades to assist him, carefully placed them to cover the fire of the two adjacent hostile bunkers. Choosing a moment that provided a fair opportunity for passing these bunkers, he immediately charged into the mouth of the steadily firing cannon and entered the emplacement through the fire port, driving the gun crew out of the rear door and insuring their destruction before he himself was wounded. Indomitable and aggressive in the face of almost certain death, Owens silenced a powerful gun which was of inestimable value to the Japanese defense and, by his brilliant initiative and heroic spirit of self-sacrifice, contributed immeasurably to the success of the vital landing operations. His valiant conduct throughout reflects the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service." We remember his courage and sacrifice. 🌐 Learn more about Manila American Cemetery: bit.ly/4q0Uttl

Today we remember WWII U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Charles A. Kryszczuk, buried at Florence American Cemetery. Kryszczuk fought with the 351st Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division. He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal. Florence American Cemetery holds the remains of over 4,000 of our war dead, most of whom died late in the fighting that occurred after the capture of Rome in June 1944 and the heavy fighting in the Apennines Mountains shortly before the war’s end. We remember their service and sacrifice. Discover Florence American Cemetery in 360: virtual360.abmc.gov/florence

Before the @NFL took the field in Paris, some of its leaders took time to remember American service members buried overseas. 🇺🇸 New Orleans @Saints owner Gayle Benson, Pittsburgh @Steelers President Art Rooney II, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell paid their respects to the men and women buried at Suresnes American Cemetery, and laid a wreath at Sgt. Norman Clarke's grave. Clarke grew up in Edgerton, Wisconsin, where he played football for Edgerton High School. On Thanksgiving Day in 1916, he helped his small-town team defeat La Crosse, 7-0, in a game billed at the time as deciding Wisconsin’s high school championship. Clarke contributed 53 rushing yards to the victory. He graduated as president of his class in 1917, having already enlisted in the military. As a sergeant with the 128th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division, he deployed to France and took part in the fighting near Juvigny during the Oise-Aisne offensive. There, Clarke suffered the wounds that would prove fatal. He died Sept. 11, 1918. Today, he rests at Suresnes American Cemetery with more than 1,500 other service members who served during World War I and World War II. 📸 @USEmbassyFrance

Day after day, our staff's commitment remains. Each headstone, engraved with a name, a rank, a story, receives their care. Respect is paid for the sacrifices the fallen made. This is not just cleaning stone. It is tending to the legacy of those who gave everything. 🌐 Learn more about Flanders Field American Cemetery: abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorial…

Before the @NFL took the field in Paris, some of its leaders and legends took time to remember. 🇺🇸 Pro Football Hall of Famer Mel Blount, former NFL player @Mathieu_Era, New Orleans @Saints owner Gayle Benson, Pittsburgh @Steelers President Art Rooney II, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell visited Suresnes American Cemetery to honor the Americans commemorated there. A meaningful moment of remembrance connecting generations through service and sacrifice. 🙏 📸 @USEmbassyFrance

Three unique things about Rhone American Cemetery. 1️⃣ The battle map depicting Operation Dragoon and follow-on operations up the Rhone River Valley as far as Epinal, is often used for battle study by international military groups who visit the site and pay their respects to the men and one woman honored here. 2️⃣ Of the nearly 60,000 military nurses that served in the Army Nurse Corps during World War II, very few were flight nurses. One of them, 1st Lt. Aleda Lutz, is the only woman buried here. Lutz was awarded the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Purple Heart Medal. 3️⃣ In the bestseller “To Hell and Back,” Maj. Audie Murphy mentions his friend, Brandon, nearly 100 times. Brandon was in fact Pfc. Lattie Tipton, his best friend, who is buried at Rhone American Cemetery. 🌐 Discover other interesting facts about Rhone American Cemetery: bit.ly/47pDAjQ

In the fall of 1944, the U.S. First Army fought one of the fiercest urban battles of World War II, the Battle of Aachen. From mid-September to October 21, American forces encircled and stormed the first German city to fall to Allied forces. The fighting was brutal. Aachen’s natural defenses, and its position along the Siegfried Line, made it a fortress. Despite an ultimatum to surrender, German forces refused, determined to hold the city at all costs. After bitter, house-to-house combat, Aachen fell. Nearly 80% of the city was destroyed, and both sides suffered thousands of casualties. ABMC honors those Americans who fought and sacrificed at Aachen. May the final resting places of the fallen serve as a reminder of freedom’s price and the enduring spirit of those who fought for it.

⚠️ Operational Status Alert 📍 Lafayette Escadrille Memorial Cemetery 📆 Oct. 23, 2026 Please note that due to high winds and the closure of the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud, in which the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial Cemetery is located, the memorial will not be accessible today, Friday, Oct. 23. Please note that the safety of our visitors and staff remains our priority. We appreciate your understanding. 🌐 To check the current operational status of ABMC commemorative sites, please visit: abmc.gov/cemetery-operationa…

⚠️ Operational Status Alert 📍 Brittany American Cemetery 📆 Oct. 23, 2026 Due to extremely high winds, flags will not be flown at Brittany American Cemetery today, Friday, Oct. 23. Please note that the safety of our visitors and staff remains our priority. We appreciate your understanding. 🌐 To check the current operational status of ABMC commemorative sites, please visit: abmc.gov/cemetery-operationa…

⚠️ Operational Status Alert 📍 Pointe du Hoc Rangers Monument 📆 Oct. 23, 2026 Due to extremely high winds, please note that the bunkers at Pointe du Hoc Rangers Monument will remain closed Friday, Oct. 23. No staff will be available and restroom facilities will not be accessible. Please note that the safety of our visitors and staff remains our priority. We appreciate your understanding. 🌐 To check the current operational status of ABMC commemorative sites, please visit: abmc.gov/cemetery-operationa…

⚠️ Operational Status Alert 📍 Normandy American Cemetery 📆 Oct. 23, 2026 Due to extremely high winds, flags will not be flown at Normandy American Cemetery this morning. The cemetery and visitor center will remain open, but access to the overlook, memorial and plot areas will remain closed while our team assesses conditions. Please note that the safety of our visitors and staff remains our priority. We appreciate your understanding. 🌐 To check the current operational status of ABMC commemorative sites, please visit: abmc.gov/cemetery-operationa…

⚠️ Operational Status Alert 📍 Normandy American Cemetery 📆 Nov. 16, 2026 – August 2027 🚧 Travel impacts along A13 autoroute from Paris to Normandy 👉 A portion of the A13, the main autoroute servicing Normandy from Paris, will be closed from November 16, 2026, to August 2027. Visitors should prepare to follow alternate routes or plan other modes of transportation. 🌐 To check the current operational status of ABMC commemorative sites, please visit: abmc.gov/cemetery-operationa…

Today we remember WWII U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Carroll N. Abrahamson, buried at Sicily-Rome American Cemetery. Abrahamson fought with 97th Bomber Squadron, 47th Bomber Group (Light). He was awarded the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart Medal. Sicily-Rome American Cemetery holds the remains of nearly 8,000 of our war dead, most of whom died in the liberation of Sicily, in the landings in the Salerno Area and the heavy fighting northward, in the landings at Anzio Beach and expansion of the beachhead, and in air and naval support in the regions. We remember their service and sacrifice. Discover Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in 360: virtual360.abmc.gov/florence

At Corozal American Cemetery in Panama, ABMC staff care for the final resting place of those honored here. They clean each headstone. They maintain the grass. They preserve the beauty and dignity of this sacred place. Across these 16 acres rest more than 5,000 American veterans and others. They served in conflicts spanning generations, from the Mexican-American War and the Civil War to the World Wars and other major conflicts. This memorial also honors those who contributed to the construction, operation and maintenance of the Panama Canal. Since 1982, ABMC has been responsible for the care and maintenance of this cemetery. A commitment carried forward through the work of its staff, day after day. Their service is remembered. Their legacy. Our promise. 🌐 Learn more about Corozal American Cemetery: abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorial…

Today we remember WWI U.S. Army Pfc. Maurice W. Akabas, buried at Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. Born in the Russian Empire, Akabas immigrated to the United States with his family and later settled in Boston, where he graduated, and later to Laredo, Texas, where he worked as a clerk. Akabas registered for the draft in June 1917 and deployed to France in the summer of 1918. After training at Camp Bowie, Texas, he was assigned to the 143rd Infantry Regiment, 36th Division. On Oct. 18, 1918, while at regimental headquarters in Vaux-Champagne, Akabas was killed in action when an enemy shell exploded near him. He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters. In June 2026, in coordination with Operation Benjamin, his headstone at Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery was one of five to be changed from a Latin cross to a Star of David headstone Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery contains the graves of over 14,000 American service members, making it the largest American military cemetery in Europe from World War I. Most lost their lives during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the largest military operation in U.S. history at the time. Nearly 1,000 missing are memorialized on the Walls of the Missing. We remember their service and sacrifice. Discover Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in 360: bit.ly/4yTJw0O Learn more about the headstone exchange ceremony: bit.ly/4ykxigA

Today we remember WWI U.S. Army Pvt. Hyman Aronoff, buried at Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. Hyman Aronoff was born in the Russian Empire and later moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1911. He registered for the draft in Chicago, Illinois, was inducted into the U.S. Army in September 1917, and after training with the 343rd Infantry at Camp Grant, Illinois, he transferred to the 129th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Division. Aronoff deployed overseas in May 1918 and saw heavy combat during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. On Oct. 17, 1918, near Consenvoye, France, he was killed in action by shrapnel during intense combat. In June 2026, in coordination with Operation Benjamin, his headstone at Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery was one of five to be changed from a Latin cross to a Star of David headstone Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery contains the graves of over 14,000 American service members, making it the largest American military cemetery in Europe from World War I. Most lost their lives during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the largest military operation in U.S. history at the time. Nearly 1,000 missing are memorialized on the Walls of the Missing. We remember their service and sacrifice. Discover Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in 360: bit.ly/4yTJw0O Learn more about the headstone exchange ceremony: bit.ly/4ykxigA

Today we remember WWI U.S. Army Pfc. Barney Bardman, buried at Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. Barney Bardman, born Boruch Burd, immigrated to the United States at age 17 in 1913, joining relatives in Brooklyn, New York. By 1917 he was living on the Lower East Side, supporting his father, before he was drafted into the U.S. Army in December. Serving with the 307th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division, Bardman saw intense combat in France. In June 1918, he was severely wounded by phosgene and mustard gas and was hospitalized along with dozens of men from his regiment. After recovering, he was wounded again in September during operations along the Aisne. In early October, the 307th Infantry Regiment, particularly Company B, played a decisive role in breaking through German defenses to rescue the surrounded “Lost Battalion” in the Argonne Forest, an action in which Bardman directly participated and that saved nearly 200 survivors. On Oct. 16, 1918, while scouting ahead for his platoon during the advance toward Grandpré, Bardman was mortally wounded by machine-gun fire but warned his comrades to withdraw, saving their lives. Bardman was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism. In June 2026, in coordination with @OperBenjamin, his headstone at Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery was one of five to be changed from a Latin cross to a Star of David headstone Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery contains the graves of over 14,000 American service members, making it the largest American military cemetery in Europe from World War I. Most lost their lives during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the largest military operation in U.S. history at the time. Nearly 1,000 missing are memorialized on the Walls of the Missing. We remember their service and sacrifice. Discover Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in 360: bit.ly/4yTJw0O Learn more about the headstone exchange ceremony: bit.ly/4ykxigA

On Oct. 20, 1944, the U.S. Sixth Army landed on the beaches of Leyte. It was the beginning of a massive amphibious operation in the Pacific Theater during World War II – and the start of the campaign to liberate the Philippines. Over 200,000 Americans fought alongside their Filipino allies across rough, mountainous terrain and dense, thick jungles against a proven Japanese enemy. The fighting was fierce. The skies and seas roared with battle – culminating in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, one of the largest naval battles in history. By year’s end, any effective Japanese resistance on Leyte had collapsed. The U.S. sustained more than 15,000 casualties securing victory. Their courage and sacrifice hastened the war’s end and paved the way for the ultimate liberation of an entire nation. Today, the Manila American Cemetery honors them all.

Today we remember WWII U.S. Army Air Forces Pfc. Harvey A. Manley, buried at Netherlands American Cemetery. Manley was awarded the Purple Heart Medal. One of 26 ABMC cemeteries worldwide, Netherlands American Cemetery is the only American military cemetery in the Netherlands. The U.S. 30th Infantry Division liberated this site on Sept. 13, 1944. A temporary American cemetery was established here on Nov. 10, 1944. Today, the cemetery contains the graves of more than 8,000 of our military dead, most of whom lost their lives in World War II. The names of the 1,722 missing service members of the Army and Army Air Forces are engraved on the walls flanking the reflecting pool of the Court of Honor. We remember their service and sacrifice. Discover Netherlands American Cemetery in 360: virtual360.abmc.gov/netherla…