Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial
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Detailed History
This cemetery, which covers 28 acres of rolling farm country near the eastern edge of Brittany, contains the remains of 4,409 of our war dead, most of whom lost their lives in the Normandy and Brittany Campaigns of 1944. Along the retaining wall of the memorial terrace are inscribed the names of 498 of the missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified.
The gray granite memorial, containing the chapel as well as two large operations maps with narratives and flags of our military services, overlooks the burial area. From the lookout platform of the tower there is a view of the stately pattern of the headstones, as well as of the surrounding countryside stretching northward to the sea and Mont St. Michel.
The cemetery is located on the site of the temporary American St. James Cemetery, established on August 4, 1944 by the U.S. Third Army. It marks the point where the American forces made their breakthrough from the hedgerow country of Normandy into the plains of Brittany during the offensive around Avranches.
Official Website
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 450th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32874879
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 603rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19061810
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20273063
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19078528
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner