meuse-argonne american cemetery and memorial

Finding this largest American Cemetery in Europe was a challenge for us without GPS. Driving the small roads through the Meuse forest gave no indication of the bloody push by American forces September to November, 1918. The one exception was the 1st Infantry Division (Big Red One) memorial at a lonely cross-roads, not indicated on any of the maps we had. The village of Romagne-sous-Montfaucon is very small and scenic, but the beauty and sadness of the cemetery cannot be overstated. Whereas the Normandy Cemetery imparts a sense of 'the ultimate sacrifice' recognized, honored, and necessary, I could feel only sadness for the fate of these American boys. The size is staggering....130.5 acres, 14,246 Americans, and the names of the 954 missing (and including the missing of the ill-fated US expedition to northern Russia, interesting enough). We were two of only six people there on the day of our visit, and the only Americans. And going by the sign in registry, two of very few Americans to have visited in months. We spent more time there than originally planned just walking the rows and reading the names, dates, and homes of these many brave souls. My grandfather's division and regiment were well represented there as well, having fought in the coordinated push to the west in The Champagne. Per the cemetery booklet, 'More than 1.2 million US troops fought during the 47 days of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. About 117,000 were killed or wounded.' I'm willing to bet very few had ever been out of the US prior to this experience, and they never made it home.Its located about 26 miles NW of Verdun. I wish more Americans could visit these forgotten boys.