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No words to describe.
Author: Raine    Date: 11/12/2018 14:16:08

I can't find the right words to express my disgust with what we witnessed over the weekend in France. Disgust isn't strong enough. Honoring the 100th anniversary of the first World war, this happened.
U.S. President Donald Trump canceled a visit to an American cemetery outside Paris Saturday during the president's visit to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.

A White House statement said the president's visit was canceled because of scheduling and logistical difficulties caused by the weather.

Instead, an American delegation led by Chief of Staff General John Kelly and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joe Dunford visited the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial under gray skies and drizzle, paying respect to the nearly 2,300 war dead buried there.

The area was the site of the Battle of Belleau Wood in June 1918. In addition to the 2,288 graves of American soldiers, the cemetery contains a memorial to 1,060 service members who went missing in action.
I'll let this thread explain why, and I am sure our TriSec and others will chime in.

It should be noted that this is the Cemetary he decided not to visit.
The Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial is a 42-acre (17 ha) World War I cemetery in Belleau, Northern France. It is at the foot of the hill where the Battle of Belleau Wood was fought, with many American fatalities. The cemetery also contains burials from the Battle of Château-Thierry, later that summer.

The site is maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission, and its dedication ceremony was held on Memorial Day, May 30, 1937. Among those buried there are Medal of Honor recipient Weedon Osborne.

The Chateau-Thierry American Monument and the Belleau Wood US Marines monument are nearby.


I present to you a twitter thread from the US National Archives, it is notable for this reason:


It might be a leap, but I can't help but wonder if he knew the history of the Harlem Helfighters, some of who find that cemetary their final resting place.
The U.S. Army decided on 8 April 1918 to assign the unit to the French Army for the duration of American participation in the war, because many white American soldiers refused to perform combat duty with blacks. The men were issued French weapons, helmets, belts, and pouches, although they continued to wear their U.S. uniforms. While in the United States, the 369th Regiment was subjected to intense racial discrimination, and its members looked down upon. It suffered considerable harassment by both individual white American soldiers and they even persuaded French Colonel J.L.A. Linard of the American Expeditionary Force headquarters to write the notorious pamphlet Secret Information Concerning Black American Troops, which "warned" French civilian authorities of the alleged inferior nature and supposed racist tendencies of African Americans.

In France, the 369th was treated as if they were no different from any other French unit. The French did not show hatred towards them and did not racially segregate the 369th. The 369th finally felt what it was like to be treated equally. The French accepted the all black 369th Regiment with open arms and welcomed them to their country. The French were less concerned with race than the Americans, due to manpower shortages.

The 369th Infantry Regiment was relieved 8 May 1918 from assignment to the 185th Infantry Brigade, and went into the trenches as part of the French 16th Division. It served continuously to 3 July. The regiment returned to combat in the Second Battle of the Marne. Later the 369th was reassigned to Gen. Lebouc's 161st Division to participate in the Allied counterattack. On one tour they were out for over 6 months which was the longest deployment of any unit in World War I. On 19 August, the regiment went off the line for rest and training of replacements.


and

Raine

 

 

 

 
 
 

37 comments (Latest Comment: 11/12/2018 20:37:27 by Raine)
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