Laclede in Linn County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Oise-Aisne American Cemetery and Memorial
| — | First World War Commemorative Garden | — |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 22, 2025
1. Oise-Aisne American Cemetery Marker
Most of the troops buried in the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery lost their lives fighting in eastern France in 1918.
The United States Army practiced segregation during World War I. African American troops generally performed non-combat duties while serving under American officers. However, the African American 92nd and 93rd divisions assigned to serve alongside French officers and soldiers distinguished themselves in battle. On Sept. 12, 1918, Germans bombarded the regiment with “gas” shells. When gas didn’t come out, the soldiers inspected the shells and found them to be full of propaganda flyers encouraging the colored troops to stop fighting for the U.S. They would find “real friends” on the German lines according to the fliers.
Serving under French command, these troops were instrumental in successfully pushing the German lines back to the Belgian border by Nov. 11, 1918.
[photo caption] The 93rd Division, composed of four African American infantry regiments, wore a patch with a blue French helmet on their uniforms.
Oise-Aisne American Cemetery and Memorial
Dedicated: 1937
Location: France
Burials: 6,012
Missing in Action:
this page online
Acres: 36.5
Missourians:
Taylor Osborn, Private, US Army
367th Infantry Regiment, 92nd Division
January 26, 1919
Plot D, Row 27, Grave #28
Erected 2018 by Missouri State Parks.
Topics. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Patriots & Patriotism • War, World I. A significant historical date for this entry is September 12, 1918.
Location. 39° 47.367′ N, 93° 10.269′ W. Marker is in Laclede, Missouri, in Linn County. It is on Prairie Street just west of Olive Street, on the right when traveling west. The marker is in the First World War Commemorative Garden at the General John J. Pershing Boyhood Home State Historic Site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 905 Pershing Drive, Laclede MO 64651, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker and memorial is in North Missouri. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once
Courtesy Historical Society of Forest Park
2. Marker detail: Members of the “Harlem Hellcats” the 369th Infantry Regiment in World War I
The soldiers of the 92nd and 93rd Divisions, nicknamed “Buffalo Soldiers,” wore distinctive buffalo patches on their uniforms. (Photo from http://www.forestparkreview.com/News/Articles/2-10-2015/Black-troops-in-WWI-to-be-discussed/)
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Somme American Cemetery and Memorial (here, next to this marker); Saint-Mihiel American Cemetery and Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Brookwood American Cemetery and Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Flanders Field American Cemetery and Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); First World War Commemorative Garden (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Laclede.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. First World War Commemorative Garden
Also see . . .
1. Black Troops in WWI (Forest Park Review).
(by Jean Lotus, 2/10/2015) Excerpt: More than 380,000 African-American soldiers fought(Submitted on February 25, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)in World War I, enduring segregated barracks and sometimes relegated to the most difficult and dirty tasks. “Our enemies gave us our name, [which] is an honor,” said Col. Reginald Sanders of the 369th. The 370th Infantry Regiment was from Illinois.
3. Marker detail: Oise-Aisne American Cemetery location
2. 92nd Infantry Division (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: All of the enlisted personnel and about four-fifths of the officers were African American, but the great majority of the staff and field grade, supply, artillery, engineer, and quartermaster officers were white. For this division, 104 Black captains, 397 first lieutenants, and 125 second lieutenants were trained at a "negro officers' camp" in Des Moines, Iowa. As was the case with the 93rd Division, parts of the 92nd served under and alongside the French Army. The main body of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF), adhering to the racial policies of Southern President Woodrow Wilson, Secretary of War Newton D. Baker, and southern Democrats, who promoted the "separate but equal" doctrine, refused to allow African American soldiers to serve in combat with white American soldiers.(Submitted on February 25, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Arriving on the Western Front, the 92nd was a green and untried unit that was not even given time to maneuver as a division before being committed to the line. After arrival the 92nd, like all AEF units, trained in trench warfare. They began to be introduced by company into the French sector of the front lines in mid-August 1918. The 92nd Division saw combat in the Meuse–Argonne offensive, the largest battle fought by the AEF in the war (and the largest in U.S. military history), during November 1918 and was engaged in fighting right up until the Armistice with Germany on November 11.
3. 93rd Infantry Division (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: The 93rd Infantry Division was a "colored" segregated unit of the United States Army in World War I and World War II. However, in World War I only its four infantry regiments, two brigade headquarters, and a provisional division headquarters were organized, and the divisional and brigade headquarters were demobilized in May 1918. Its regiments fought primarily under French command in that war and saw action during the Second Battle of the Marne. They acquired the nickname Blue Helmets (French: Casques Bleus) from the French, as these units were issued horizon blue French Adrian helmets. Consequently, its shoulder patch became a blue French helmet, to commemorate its service with the French Army during the German spring offensive.(Submitted on February 25, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
4. Oise-Aisne American Cemetery and Memorial (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: An American military cemetery in northern France. Plots A through D contain the graves of 6,013 American soldiers who died while fighting in this vicinity during World War I, 597 of which were not identified, as well as a monument for 241 Americans who were missing in action during battles in the same area and whose remains were never recovered. Included among the soldiers here who lost their lives is poet Joyce Kilmer (1886–1918 †).(Submitted on February 25, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
The cemetery is generally rectangular in shape. The chapel, museum and grave plots are one side of the road and a parking area and the service facilities on the other side. The plots are divided by a walkway with a circular island of grass in the middle. The sides of the cemetery include paths, a privet hedge, and a low stone wall.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 21, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 63 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 25, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
