The Luxembourg American Cemetery, where General Patton's grave is located

The United States Army and Navy played a prominent role in the European theater of operations during World War II.

The Normandy American Cemetery and the history of the D-Day gravediggers
The Ardennes American Cemetery, with more than 5,000 fallen in the World War II

As a result, US soldiers are buried in more than half a dozen European countries, from the United Kingdom to Poland (where prisoners of war are buried). Most American cemeteries in Europe are in France, and the smallest country with its own American military cemetery is Luxembourg.

The Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial began construction on December 29, 1944, during the German Ardennes offensive. The cemetery is located in the town of Hamm, 5 kilometers east of the center of the country's capital and just south of Luxembourg Findel International Airport.

The cemetery was founded by the 609th Quartermaster Company of the U.S. Army, part of the Third Army under the command of General George Patton, which had its headquarters in Luxembourg. As is common in U.S. military cemeteries, white crosses identify Christians and Stars of David identify Jews, as seen on this grave.

In 1951, Luxembourg granted the United States perpetual use of this land, consisting of 6.8 hectares of grass surrounded by 13.5 hectares of woods. The cemetery is fan-shaped, with the wide end facing south. The cemetery is managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission.

Currently, this cemetery contains the graves of 5,070 U.S. service members, including more than 100 who could not be identified. Most of the soldiers buried there fell in combat during the Battle of the Bulge, between December 16, 1944, and January 25, 1945. In addition, this cemetery honors 371 missing in action, or combatants whose bodies were never found.

The cemetery has a Memorial Chapel on its north side. It is square in plan, with large bronze doors and a mosaic ceiling depicting four angels. Near the chapel are two large standing stones. One shows a map of Allied operations in Western Europe, and the other a map of the Battle of the Bulge. Near the monoliths there are two masts where US flags fly.

Among the fallen buried there are two who received the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest military decoration: Sergeant Day G. Turner (1921–1945) of the 80th Infantry Division, and Private William D. McGee (1923–1945) of the 76th Infantry Division.

Additionally, there are five members of the famous Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, a unit made famous by the 2001 television series "Band of Brothers," directed by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.

Without a doubt, the most famous deceased person in this cemetery is General George Patton, who died as a result of an accident on December 21, 1945, months after the end of World War II. His grave is in a prominent location, as if overlooking the other soldiers buried there.

You can watch the official Luxembourg American Cemetery video here, published four years ago by the American Battle Monuments Commission:

Last Saturday, The History Underground dedicated one of its always interesting videos to show this cemetery, with some images recorded a few months ago on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge and reviewing the testimonies of American veterans of the Second World War:

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Main photo: The History Underground / Rest of the photos: American Battle Monuments Commission / Albert Foley.