European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 6, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Few a nil \ a memorial to selflessness by Nancy l. Toner . Bureau Madingley England a a Bronze Tablet that sits on a porch Wall of the visitors building at the american military cemetery and memorial in Madingley is testimony to the Caliper of men and women buried there. A a. A a. A a a the Tablet donated by residents from Cheshunt and Waltham Cross in Southern England pays tribute to members of an american aircrew from the 392nd bomb group who sacrificed themselves during world War ii rather than abandon their disabled aircraft Over these English villages. In their own ways each of the 3,694 men and 18 women interred at the cemetery sacrificed their lives during the War for the betterment of others. The cemetery on the a1301 about 14 Miles West of Cambridge is a memorial to their selflessness. A a lot of people ask Why did they families leave their loved ones Here a said James a. Schoenecker cemetery superintendent. A the reasons Are All  bout 24 of the Graves belong to unknown soldiers. Their names most Likely appear somewhere among the 5,125 that Are etched into the Wall of the missing Schoenecker said. The Portland Limestone Wall stretches 475 feet from the flagpole at one end of the cemetery to a memorial at the other and overlooks a series of reflecting pools bordered by Polyanthe roses. Among the missing Are band Leader Glenn Miller and it. Col. Leon Vance a medal of Honor recipient who successfully completed a bombing Mission june 5,1944, and returned All but one Crew member safely to England despite the loss of three engines and a nearly severed foot. Vance also survived when he crashed the. Plane in the English Channel Only to be lost a s4s Dave Didio Schoenecker a ,. \ Vav a a a a 1 it i a. A a v a a a a a v v. . I visitors pause to read a Headstone in the american cemetery at Madingley England. A amps Dave Aldio god of our fathers known of old lord of our far Flung Battle line beneath whose awful hand we hold Dominion Over Palm and Pine a lord god of hosts be with us yet lest we forget a lest we forget the tumult and the shouting Dies the captains and the Kings depart still stands thine ancient sacrifice a Humble and a contrite heart. Lord god of hosts be with us yet lest we forget a lest we forget Rudyard Kipling month later when his air evacuation aircraft to the states disappeared. He memorial to the dead is entered through two Teakwood doors bearing Bronze models of military equipment and naval vessels. Inside a mosaic pattern of aircraft and Angels hover on the ceiling. One Wall is covered by a map of the United kingdom that depicts the location of american troops during the War and the principal air and sea invasions of Normandy and North Africa. A Chapel at the far end. Features a Portland Stone altar on which rests a Large Bronze Cross. A outside the Serene 30.5-acre site is bordered on two sides by Woodland and overlooks open Fields and Farmland. On Clear Days the Ely Cathedral in Ely can be seen in the distance. The site was established As a temporary military cemetery in 1943 on land donated by Cambridge University Schoenecker said. It was dedicated in 1956 As the Only permanent american world War ii cemetery in the British Isles. Between 9,000 and 10,000 Graves existed at the cemetery until after world War ii when the remains of about 60 percent of the deceased were returned to the United states at the request of their families Schoenecker said. The number of Graves now total 3,712, All but one of which belongs to a world War ii casualty he said. The family of capt. Thomas Caldwell an Al 11 aviator from Raf Lakenheath who was killed in october 1990 in saudi Arabia during operation desert shield was Given special permission from the . Government to have Caldwell buried at the cemetery Schoenecker said. A a that a the Only exception to the policy that a been made since world War ii Quot Schoenecker said. June 6, 1994 a stars and stripes commemorative edition 35