U.S. Memorial Wereth

04/10/2026

02/10/2026

I died in defense of Liberty, Justice and Freedom, which I myself did not have. With my life ended in anguish, my valor ensured the freedom of democracy for many a nation and its people.
Let no forget my name.

Today let us remember the birthday of Private First Class Davis George ,one of
the Wereth 11 of the 333rd Field Artillery Battalion,
murdered by the SS on 17th December 1944 in Wereth
(Belgium). Thank you for your service in the fight for our peace and our freedom. You sacrificed your life for us, we will never forget you. Rest In Peace 🙏🏼

My Name is George Davis
Private First Class,
Service nr.: 34553436

born on 2nd of October 1918 in Alabahma in U.S.A .

Hi everybody, I'm George Davis. Well, Little Georgie", actually, that's what I'm called, because of my five-foot- four-inch stature. Does „Lil' Georgie" sounds respectful and awe-inspiring to you?
My Captain wasn't so sure about that...
I was an only son, went to a good school and wanted to make something of my life. I was drafted in May 1942 at the age of 24. Off to Oklahoma, off to Camp Gruber.
Before setting off to Europe, a world unknown to me. My dad warned me: „If you sign up, you 'll be cooking the white boys'food or digging their nasty latrines. And they'll not allow you to eat in their mess halls or sleep in their barracks." He remembered the Great War.
I didn't care about all that. I was going to make my mark. „Lil' Georgie" from Bessemer, Alabama. When I left, my dad gave me his father's railroad pocket watch. My mom, crying non-stop. The newspaper photo of Jesse Owens in my pocket. Anything to embarrass and disprove A***n superiority at the Olympic games in Berlin. Jesse Owens, my hero! What an inspiration! Looking back, I don't think I ever really WAS that „immature kid from Bessemer, Alabama."
I had a wife, Clara. I had a daughter, Shirley Mae. And, yes, after I was brutally killed, here, in this field, my mom wanted me home. My wife wanted me to be buried overseas. Since Clara was officially next of kin", her wish was granted, and I am resting not far from here. Sorry, Mom. Will you come and see me sometime?

When the snow is falling, And hearts are freezing.
Little Georgie Is all grown-up.

Hermann Langer, the initiator of the monument in Wereth had adopted the grave of George Davis.
After his death in 2013, his daughter Sylvia Langer took over the godparenthood of the grave.

His final resting place is at the American Cemetery Henri-Chapelle (B) (Grave number D10-61) R.I.P.

Thank you for your service in the fight for our peace and our freedom. You sacrificed your life for us, we will never forget you. Rest In Peace 🙏🏼

06/09/2026

Today let us remember the birthday of Technical Sergeant James Aubrey Stewart, born on 6th September 1907 in Alabama in U.S. one of the Wereth 11 of the 333rd Field Artillery Battalion, murdered by the SS on 17th December 1944
James A.Stewart
in Wereth (Belgium). He fought for our peace and lost his young life.

My name is James Aubrey Stewart, and I'm the oldest one of the soldiers killed here on 17th December 1944. A father figure to the other, younger soldiers, no doubt. I went to school and was a baseball pitcher for the all-black „Piedmont Giants" And giants, we were! After graduation I
worked as a bricklayer and a carpenter in the Paper Mill, just as my father did.
My parents are James and Emma Stewart. I have two
brothers, Harry and Leslie, and three sisters, Mary Magnolia, Franchion and Isabelle. My family is everything to me. People say I'm kind and gentle, blessed with ambition and compassion.
At my age, life experience makes you who you are, really. I was in my mid-30s when I decided to leave my family, a safe job, the life I knew so far, and I signed up to fight overseas. I was too old to be drafted, so I volunteered. A family man, inside and out, it didn't take me long to connect to the men in my Battalion.
Playing baseball with Jimmie, keeping up morale, that's me. You can tell from my letters to my family - whether telling them about being at a Marlene Dietrich show, telling Mum to take it easy and my sisters to do as the doctor says, or telling them about the good music I'm listening to.
But the cruelty of this war, the bayonet wounds, my fractured skull, the truth of what happened here, Mom and Dad, you never found out. My dear nephew Rick, years later, travelled to Wereth, met the Langer family, stood right here, remembering me. The „Invisible Eleven", no more.
And as the snow is falling, Hearts are beating.
Killed in Action?
Not killed in vain.

20/08/2026

On July 23rd, 2026 we had the great pleasure to welcome Steven & Faye Donahue with the 333FAB guidon at the memorial in Wereth . Thanks to Peter & Sonja Heinrichs, they also could visit the Langer's house and sit down at The Table where the 11 soldiers had their last meal. Steven contacted us with:
"My wife and I will be traveling into the area on a trip celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. Our itinerary has us staying in Brussels the night before the visit, and stopping at the memorial before we go to our next stop of cologne.
I served in C-333 FA during Desert Storm. I was stationed in Baumholder Germany for 3 years (88-91). After the war ended, our unit/ division (8th Infantry) was deactivated and i was able to get my hands on the company guidon from the widow of the platoon leader. I created a Facebook unit page to round up all those that served in our unit over the years. Every few years, I facilitate a unit reunion of those that can come. I always wondered why I had a Presidential Unit Citation medal on my uniform when I served. Everyone just told me that it was from the guys actions during World War II. When I eventually heard of the Wereth Eleven, I was blown away. I am still in good health and I can't wait to unfold the guidon at the memorial. Steven & Faye Donahue "
Thanks Karl-Heinz Renerken for the great pictures.

18/08/2026

https://youtu.be/ElWnmGAyloU?is=ZHGzS1H6GRZnmcWK

Take time and watch this movie honoring the "Wereth Eleven" story by an amazing man Louis Brown! THANK YOU Andrew Biggio and "The R***e Production" for bringing those precious WWII Veterans to the U.S. Memorial Wereth.
Enjoy!

When word of the Malmedy Massacre spread in the Battle of the Bulge...

20/06/2026

22/05/2026

Dear Friends, pls find here the link to photos and videos of our last ceremony of May 9, 2026. A little fun for this nice sunny weekend. ENJOY!

Pls note already the date of next year: May 22, 2027.

From our photographer Paul McKelvie:
WERETH MEMORIAL WERETH 2026 | Flickr

From the journalist Gerd Hennen
Wereth Memorial Feier 2026 - GrenzEcho

VIDEOS:
From our cameraman Michel Legraive:

complete ceremony 1 hour
https://youtu.be/aieehYlP5EQ

summary about 6’
https://youtu.be/SA7XLOgRfoY

Le 11 septembre 1994, Hermann Langer a érigé une petite croix de pi...

16/05/2026

WERETH, Belgium – Col. Charles Douglas, deputy commander of Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, traveled to Belgium on May 9 to honor the memory of 11 African American Soldiers from the 333rd Field

15/05/2026

THANK YOU Hattie Maxwell, Commander of National Association of Black Veterans for all these golden Certificates:
44 to the flag bearers, 28 to the volunteers and 10 to the students.