US 1ste Division Memorial Vigneulles-lès-Hattonchâtel

A large monument in honor of the soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division who died in the area during the Battle of St. Mihiel in WW1.
A large stone column with the image of an eagle on top and inlaid on three sides with bronze plaques on which the names of the victims, 98 soldiers of the First Division lost their lives.

The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was a battle fought between September 12 and September 15, 1918 between German troops on the one hand and attacking American and French troops on the other.
The town of Saint-Mihiel, located on the Meuse, had been occupied by the Germans since September 1914 and then formed an excellent point in the front line. Only after four years did the Allies attack this area.
The attack was planned by American General John J. Pershing. He wanted to attack the retreating Germans under General Georg von der Marwitz as long as their artillery had not been reinstalled. The Americans hoped to break through and capture the fortified city of Metz. The American Air Force, then still the United States Army Air Service, was given an important role in the offensive.
The 10 German divisions of the Fifth Army and an Austro-Hungarian division were attacked by 14 divisions of the American Expeditionary Forces and 4 French divisions
The Allies deployed 3,000 artillery pieces, 1,481 aircraft and 419 tanks.
These battles resulted in many deaths and injuries on both sides
The offensive was a partial success, the Germans were thrown back but they were able to dig in again. The Americans could not break through to Metz.
The Americans honored their veterans with a clasp with the inscription "St-Mihiel". This could be worn on the ribbon of their Victory Medal.

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