65th Infantry Division Veterans Lost in Battle

 "It is the largest American cemetery in the second World War in Europe. It brings together the graves of many American soldiers, including many aviators. Most of the them fell during battles in the border regions and during the conquest of the Rhine. A memorial chapel with five "allegoriques"  statues symbolizes the eternal struggle for freedom. The South wall is adorned with a huge map that takes over the different phases of the fighting. B visiting it, it is not uncommon to hear English, because it is a place of pilgrimage for many soldiers from the Atlantic with their families. The venue also organizes every year in May a memorial day to commemorate these men from afar to fight alongside the French. This is a high point of testimony and commemoration."​​ 

 "The small story of this album dedicated to Samuel L Adler A Veteran of 39/45 of the 259th Infantry Regiment of the U.S. 65th Infantry Division.
Yesterday by creating my flickr account an American Jeffrey Wagner was looking for someone who could provide him pictures of his grandfather’s grave that he certainly did not know, I could not refuse such a request and go pay tribute to one of these Hero without whom we would certainly speak of Goethe’s language.
In Tradition I sanded his name so that he appeared and dropped a candle at the foot of his grave accompanied by a prayer.
I was taken from some emotion but proud of this little gesture accomplished for an unknown."
-Claude Ferry

"Claude,
My family is beside themselves with joy. This is especially true for my mother. She is now in her mid-70’s and, although she would like to try to get to St. Avold, such a trip would be very hard for her. Attached is a picture of her as a 3 year old, with Sam (her father) and Goldie (her mother). We believe that this picture was taken right before Sam shipped out for the war. The happy little girl in that picture – along with all four of her children and all 10 of her grandchildren – cannot possibly thank you enough.
All our best,
Jeff"

 "My name is Désirée from the Netherlands. I have a question and hope somebody can help me. I'm searching for relatives from private Lionel McNeill, 261th Inf., 65th Div, his ID= 38651903, Orleans, Louisiana. I would like to have contact with his relatives if they wanted. We've got a certificate containing the personal information regarding the liberator known to the Association and the cemetery. I'm in charge for his grave in Magraten, the Netherlands. This is a American Cemmetry.
I've got this information from my grandmother, she has adopt his grave, just after the war, nobody knows it. Until she died, then we found the documents. After she died i took further action to take care for "our" soldier's grave.
I hope someone can help us. Thank you very much.."
-Desiree

Hi Christine, Thank you very much for your message. it's a small effort.. There are over 8000 soldiers here in Margraten . And all graves are adopted by families in the Netherlands.

I have only picture from his grave. I will make some new one, tomorrow. for Memorial Day. On this website you get more information about the cemetery. I hope he will find someone...

Thank you! Kind regards, Desiree

​"I've got this information from my grandmother, she has adopt his grave, just after the war, nobody knows it. Until she died, then we found the documents. I was very interested why she never has told anywhone about this. I've been very interested in the history of this braveful men. We went last May to Normandy, France. We were there for 4 days, but it was to short, to see everything in that environment. It was impressive to see, but also very strange to walk on the beaches, where about 60 years ago, some many people find the dead. I hope you can help me.. Kind Regards, Désirée Dekker The Netherlands"

Association note:  story shared on Facebook by Desiree Dekker Storcken; She is in search of PVT Lionel McNeill's family...​Our research shows the McNeill family was in New Orleans during the war. PVT McNeill is memorialized on a headstone in Metairie Cemetery.