European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 23, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse A remembrance of things past searching for a lost relative led it. Col. Mike Hess to a cemetery in France. Today he helps others make similar journeys. By Peggy Davidson Kaiserslautern Bureau Cpl. James Yost and his comrades had Only a few months of training before being thrown into one of the most devastating Battles of world War i. A a like Many soldiers in the 316th inf 79th div Yost did t survive the Battle near Romagne sous Mon Faucon France in the fall of 1918. Historical documents describe the division As Quot one of the greenest outfits Ever to be thrust into a major but being lost in Battle Hasni to meant Yost is lost to memory. His grand Nephew it. Col. Mike Hess is making sure of that. Hess now assigned to Headquarters 111 corps fwd in maastricht Netherlands Learned of Yostos death in 1979. The ensuing process of finding the grave in France has resulted not Only in preserving his own family memories but in Hess helping others to do the same. For much of his life Hess did t know of his granduncle s existence then 13 years ago As a Captain assigned to a Kaiserslautern air defense brigade he quiet now reigns where Battle roared Peggy Davidson Kaiserslautern Bureau in the Spring of 1992, the rolling Fields of French Countryside North of Verdun Are gilded with buttercups brushed by Pale yellow rape filled with herds of grazing cows. But in the fall of 1918, the seemly of the area around the Village of Romagne sous Mon Faucon was shattered by the sounds of the great War. Raw american troops battled seasoned German soldiers for Possession of Mon Faucon the highest Point in the area. A Panorama of the battlefields Between the Meuse River and the forests of Argonne would be viewed by the Victor today the Only reminders of that Battle Are the Meuse Argonne american cemetery the Mon Faucon Monument and several Small French cemeteries scattered throughout the area Llie mouse Argonne american cemetery located 26 Miles Northwest of Verdun and about seven Miles North of the contested area is the burial site of Many of the soldiers who died in that conflict. The largest american military cemetery in Europe the Meuse Argonne covers 130 acres fhe cemetery ringed by Trees is not visible from the sly rounding Countryside driving toward the area two Laue highways change to one Lane country roads the presence of Small Blue markers indicating the american military cemetery keep visitors on track separate signs for the american military Monument Lead to the Mon Faucon Monument about seven Miles Lorn the cemetery while the actual battlefields lie Between the cemetery and Verdun. Of the 14,246 soldiers buried at Meuse Argonne 486 Are unknown and Many of the White Marble crosses and stars of David Are inscribed with the words Quot Here rests in honoured glory an american Soldier known but to god Quot the Graves Are arranged in symmetrical grids divided by rows of carefully shaped european Linden Trees and sloped toward the memorial Chapel. There names of 954 american soldiers unaccounted for after the Battle Are etched into the Stone panels. A memorial ceremony is planned at the cemetery at 3 p m sunday a More Complete list of memorial Day observances around Europe appeared in wednesday s editions of the stars and stripes received a letter from a Cousin the daughter of Yost s brother. Neither the brother nor a surviving sister had Ever mentioned their sibling killed in Battle on sept 29, 1918. The sister also had lost a son in world War ii and never talked Aboul the War even refusing to watch War movies. So the subject of Yost never came up Quot she never talked about him Quot Hess said. After learning Yostos name and armed with an photo of the grave and some information about his Uncle s unit Hess wrote to the american embassy in Paris for help. He received a Quick response from the american Battle monuments commission which gave Yost s exact burial site at the Meuse Argonne cemetery near Verdun France the information was in Hess hands in time for him to attend the 1979 memorial Day service at the cemetery. Since then Hess has tried to share his knowledge of tailored ground Plaa toward tha memorial Chapel at Meuse Argonna american cemetery. How to locate family members buried at military cemeteries overseas. Quot i provide others with the addresses that s All i be done a Hess said adding that he also will share copies of letters he a written to help others make their own inquiries. And Hess is passing on the respect for his family s history to another generation his children Lindsey 13, and Mike 9, Lindsey made her first trip to her great granduncle s grave on May 18. Though they made the three hour drive from the Netherlands in casual clothes Lindsey and Mike dressed up a bit before visiting the grave in the expansive cemetery. Quot i fee better in a dress Quot Lindsey said. Quot it s kind of spiritual. You Don t come Here in both Lindsey and Mike who had been to the cemetery twice before liked making the trip. Mike and his father placed an american Flag and a French Flag at the site. Nearby Lindsey waited wearing a Spring flowered dress and her Mother s Pearl necklace to place an armful of lilacs by the simple White Cross inscribed with the name of James Yost. Beginning the search americans interested in finding a family member or Friend who May be buried in a military cemetery can get information from several sources. Each military cemetery maintains an alphabetical listing of names and a listing by units of the military members buried in All the overseas cemeteries according to Gene Dellinger superintendent of the Meuse Argonne american cemetery in Romagne sous Montla Ucon France. The listing Quot tells what cemetery the plot and has the name rank unit and the Date the Soldier died Quot he said. There also Are offices in Washington . Rome Paris and Manila Philippines that can assist people searching for Graves. To Trace someone Dellinger said he needs the full name and Quot to be absolutely positive Quot the soldiers serial number. While it s unusual Dellinger is aware of cases where the same names have been found in the same units from the same state. Quot every grave Stone that has a name on it has a serial number Quot he said. The american Battle monuments commission maintains the overseas cemeteries and monuments for assistance in locating a grave in Northern Europe the military Contact numbers Are american Battle monuments commission Apo a 09777 phone from outside France 0033-14701 -1976 in France 4701-1976. A civilian address is 68 Rue de 19 Janvier 92380 Arches France Mediterranean area military Contact Points Are american embassy Apo a 09794-0007 phone from outside Italy 0039-6-475-0157 in Italy 475-0157 civilian address american embassy via Veneto 119a Rome Italy in Washington do Casimir Pulaski building 20 Massachusetts ave. . Washington . 20314-0300 phone 202 272-0533 or 272-0532. I 0 pm my a x f w a a Quot Jelfo Ltd it 4 a a a a v \ -3p a a a a a. A a ask Xiv it a -x�?T-v,0, a it it 1 to amp to it nine year old Mike Hess walks among the Marble crosses to place flags at the grave of his great granduncle who died nearby in Battle in 1918. Far left it. Col. Mike Hama helps his children Mika Center and Undray remember Chi. Jamaa boat. Lett a quiet moment at tha Meuse Argonne american cemetery. Sas photos by Ken George Page 14 the stars and stripes saturday May 23, 1992 the stars and stripes Page 15
