Rhone American Cemetery adds rosettes for identified service members
Rhone American Cemetery staff installed a rosette Feb. 3 signifying that U.S. Army Pvt. Charles W. Smalley has been identified. The second rosette was placed for a service member whose identification is pending release from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.
DPPA initially announced Smalley’s identification Jan. 28 with the full accounting of his recovery pending the family’s full briefing. Smalley, 19, was assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division in the European Theater and was listed as missing in action as of Aug. 25, 1944.
When a missing service member is recovered, identified and finally laid to rest, ABMC places a rosette beside their name on the Walls of the Missing. This rosette, a symbol of eternity, is crafted as a bronze rosemary wreath—a timeless emblem of honor and victory. Encircled by the eight-points of a compass, it signifies America's commitment, reaching out in all directions to recover their remains from the farthest corners of the earth.
These rosettes are two of more than 2,000 that have been placed beside the names of missing service members at ABMC sites around the world. The placement of these rosettes brings the total to eight on the Wall of the Missing at Rhone American Cemetery, which includes the names of 294 service members.
