Monuments

The First Infantry Division Memorial Association is an all-volunteer organization that is responsible for the oversight and payment of maintenance expenses for 6 WWI and 5 WWII battle monuments in Europe from Omaha Beach in France to Cheb in the Czech Republic.

Many monuments both in Europe and the United States honor the achievements of the Big Red One and the sacrifices of its soldiers. The major ones are listed here.

Washington, DC

The centerpiece of our monuments is the magnificent First Division Monument located in Washington, DC.

 


Located on the corner of 17th and E streets, NW, in the shadow of the White House, this monument was originally built by the World War I veterans of the 1st Division and their friends. President Calvin Coolidge dedicated it in 1924. The center pillar was erected after World War I. It contains plaques with the names of the Division’s 5516 dead of that war. In 1957, the World War II Wing (west) was dedicated and includes plaques with the names of the Division’s 4325 dead of that war. The Vietnam Wing (east) was dedicated in 1977 and has plaques with the names of the Division’s 3079 dead of that war. At the edge of the flower bed, to the front of the Vietnam Wing, is a tablet with a plaque containing the names of the Division’s 27 dead of the Gulf War, including the first female soldier and first civilian to be killed while serving with the Big Red One. Responsibility for this monument rests with the 1st Infantry Division Foundation.

To learn more about the First Division Monument, go to the President’s Park website at www.nps.gov/whho/historyculture/first-division-monument.htm 

 

Europe

Five World War I and Five World War II 1st Infantry Division Monuments are located in Europe. The First Infantry Division Memorial Association, an organization established and funded by the World War I veterans of the 1st Division and now managed by later generations of Big Red One veterans, maintains them in perpetuity.

World War I Monuments

All World War I, 1st Division Monuments are located in France and are of the same design as the monument at Cantigny pictured here. They are at:

  • Cantigny, commemorating the casualties in the “first American attack of World War I” where 199 First Division soldiers were killed and another 867 wounded.
  • Buzancy, commemorating the Soissons campaign where 2, 213 First Division soldiers were killed and 6,347 wounded.
  • Vigneulles, commemorating the St Mihiel Salient campaign where 98 First Division soldiers were killed and another 489 wounded.
  • St Juvin, commemorating the Meuse-Argonne battles where 1790 First Division soldiers were killed and 7,126 wounded.
  • Wadelincourt, commemorating the casualties of the final First Division battle of the war for the city of Sedan where 80 First Division soldiers were killed and 503 wounded.

World War II Monuments

First Infantry Division World War II monuments are located in France, Belgium and the Czech Republic. They follow the path of the Big Red One through the war. They are all of the same design as the Normandy monument pictured here.

The 1st Infantry Division World War II monuments are located as follows:

  • Normandy, France, overlooking the Easy Red sector of “Bloody Omaha” beach commemorating the Big Red One’s 627 dead between 6 June and 24 July, 1944.
  • Mons, Belgium, commemorating the Division’s 314 dead between 25 July and 6 September 1944.
  • Henri-Chapelle, Belgium. Commemorating the 1st Infantry Division’s 1223 dead between 7 September and 15 December 1944.
  • Butgenbach (Bullingen), Belgium, commemorating the 458 Big Red One soldiers killed between 16 December and 7 February 1944.
  • Cheb, Czech Republic, commemorating the 775 1st Infantry Division soldiers killed from 8 February to 6 May 1944.