WWI MARINE VETERAN GEORGE H. HUMPHREY BURIED AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
Before a small group of family and friends, the remains of World War I United States Marine First Sergeant George H. Humphrey were buried at Arlington National Cemetery on June 23, 2010. He received full military honors.
Humphrey went Missing In Action on September 15, 1918, while leading the first United States attack of the war against the Germans, under the direction of General John J. Pershing. The battle was later recognized as the St. Mihiel Offensive. During this combat, 7,000 allies died. Consequently, this war coined the phrase “D-Day,” and was the first time American units used tanks.
First Sergeant George H. Humphrey was a member of the United States 6th Marine Regiment, which at that time, was part of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division. Following his death in battle, he was buried by his Marine comrades. In 1919, a Marine who saw First Sgt. Humphrey die near the Village of Rembercourt, wrote Humphrey’s brother. Enclosed in his letter were the poignant accounts of the battle and a map, which outlined where First Sgt. Humphrey had been buried.
At the war’s conclusion, several attempts to locate Humphrey’s remains through the United States Army Graves Registration personnel were uneventful. Then, in September 2009, while looking for war souvenirs near Rembercourt, where Humphrey was believed to be buried, French nationals stumbled upon several war items. They were believed to belong to a World War I American soldier. The items were turned over to the United States military.
Upon further investigation of that area from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, they recovered remains, along with additional military items, including a marksman’s badge with First Sgt. George H. Humphrey’s name.
An exhausting forensic investigation, along with countless evidence, backed up by dental comparisons from the scientists of JPAC laboratory, cemented the identification of First Sgt. George H. Humphrey’s remains. JPAC is the Joint Prisoners of War, Missing in Action Accounting Command.