Panorama de St. Mihiel, 12 Septembre, 1918
A World War I veteran whose remains were lost for nearly a century is to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery next Wednesday, a Marine official said.
First Sgt. George H. Humphrey died Sept. 15, 1918 during the Battle of Saint-Mihiel — one of the first U.S. solo offenses during the war. Humphrey is believed to have served with 6th Marines, 2nd Infantry Division. Fellow Marines buried his body in an unmarked grave west of the French town of Rembercourt-sur-Mad, but post-war efforts to locate the gravesite were not successful, said Gunnery Sgt. William J. Dixon, the Corps’ funeral director.
Search efforts were renewed last year after French nationals, who were hunting war relics in the village located about 17 miles northeast of St. Mihiel, found artifacts that they believed to belong to an American soldier. The artifacts were reported to the French authorities, who then notified the Joint Prisoners of War, Missing in Action Accounting Command, or JPAC, Dixon said.
A JPAC team traveled to France Oct. 20-23 and excavated the burial grounds, he said.
Humphrey will be buried with full military honors June 23 at 3 p.m. The service is open to all service members, families and friends to attend, Dixon said.
“There is no greater honor to me than to direct this funeral in honor of such a fallen warrior who laid down his life in defense of the world,” Dixon said. “His remains were lost to time, but only for a moment to the Marines.”
6 Comments
I was NOT in the Corp, I was in the Army. I served in Nam 65/66 and know what the loss of a comrad is. This fallen Marine who gave all 92 yrs ago is a comrad..his blood was shed for his Country,,He gave ALL. I salute the Marines and salute the memory of Sgt Humphrey.
Those who never served do not know that we fight for the man next to us, not for ourselves..and fight for our Country.
God Bless the memory of Sgt HUmphrey and as you guys say SEMPER FI
God bless America
I was a marine, as was my father and his father before him. My grandfather enlisted in 1917 and it is possible First Sgt. Humphrey and his paths crossed since the corp was smaller back then. First Sgt. Humphrey deserves our thanks and our praise because he and many like him are of a great generation when men of all the armed forces had only one objective and that was to protect our country and our way of life. They did so without reservation. Welcome home marine, Semper Fi.
I also was not in the Corp but I served in the Army from 1969 to 1971. Once again the Marine Corp lives up to it’s motto of Semper Fidelis.Go Jarheads!!!
Its stories like this that make me so proud to be a american
Active Marine from !961 til 1965………….. Still a Marine today. No marine is ever left behind, Semper fi !
My father and great great uncle were both Marines. My father was lucky enough to return home from Korea as a member of the Frozen Chosen. Like First Sgt. Humphrey, my great great uncle died on the battle field of St Mihiel in the fall of 1918. I have been blessed to be able to twice visit him at the cemetery there knowing that he was left and forgotten by his family for 82 years due to time and distance. I am grateful he is now at peace in the beautiful and serene setting that was at one time a human hellhole. I am also grateful First Sgt. George Humphrey is now able to have his recognized place of rest. Semper Fi.