U.S. Naval Forces Memorial - WW1
Details:
On the south side of the park.
Monument
This memorial is maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission.The memorial wall is part of the rose-colored, granite shaft monument rising 145 feet above the lower terrace and 100 feet above the Cours Dajot. The monument sits upon a German bunker complex at the approximate site of the original monument. All four sides of the monument are decorated with sculptures of naval interest. The same inscription can be seen at Avenue Salaün Penquer where the south side of the monument wall is extended. The inscription is written in both English and French.
The present structure is a replica of the original and was completed in 1958. The original monument built on this site to commemorate the achievements of the U.S. Navy during World War I was destroyed by the Germans on July 4, 1941, prior to the United States' entry into World War II.
Brest was the principal port of embarkation and debarkation of troops, equipment, and supplies. Of the more than 2,000,000 members of the AEF arriving in France, more than 700,000 flowed through Brest. Brest served as the American Naval Headquarters in France. Its ships and aircraft performed escort duties for convoys to and from France, as well as fighting the German submarine menace.
A force of more than 30 destroyers and dozens of smaller subchasers performed many missions to ensure the safety of the sea. The Naval Air Service, flying airplanes and dirigibles, supplemented the surface forces. During July and August 1918, more than 3,000,000 tons of shipping were conveyed in and out of French ports by vessels based at Brest. The AEF’s Services of Supply (SOS) Base Section No. 5 set up depots to accommodate arriving and departing troops. For example, its billeting facilities at Brest could accommodate 55,000 persons. The SOS operated a variety of installations in the Brest locale for the assembly and delivery of vehicles and equipment to forward units.
Source of information and photos: www.abmc.gov, www.commons.wikimedia.org, www.google.com/maps
Monument Text:
Memorial Wall at Cours Dejot:
ERECTED BY
THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA TO
COMMEMORATE THE
ACHIEVEMENTS OF
THE NAVAL FORCES OF
THE UNITED STATES
AND FRANCE DURING
THE WORLD WAR
★★★★★
ÉRIGÉ PAR LES ÉTATS-
UNIS D' AMÉRIQUE
POUR COMMÉMORER
LES HAUTS FAITS DES
FORCES NAVALES
DES ÉTATS-UNISET DE
LA FRANCE PENDANT
LA GUERRE MONDIALE
M C M X V I I I
Memorial Wall at Avenue Salaün Penquer:
M C M X V I I I
ERECTED BY
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
TO COMMEMORATE THE
ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE
NAVAL FORCES OF THE
UNITED STATES AND FRANCE
DURING THE WORLD WAR
★ ÉRIGÉ PAR LES ★
ÉTATS-UNIS D' AMÉRIQUE
POUR COMMÉMORER LES
HAUTS FAITS DES FORCES
NAVALES DES ÉTATS-UNIS
ET DE LA FRANCE PENDANT
LA GUERRE MONDIALE
