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The veterans made it home safely, but their children stayed behind in the U.S. Forces Kindergraves. The children had no chance at life, most perished before their first birthday.
The Kindergraves became the final resting place for 451 American children of service men and women serving in Europe during the buildup of the Cold War.
One such veteran was U.S. Army Spc. 2nd Class Simon Brooks. Specialist Brooks served with the Army Signal Corps in Pirmasens, Germany, during the post war days of reconstruction and strengthening of the line drawn between U.S. allies and the Soviets. His wife Gloria was a dedicated Army spouse who traveled several days by ship to join him in Europe. Gloria gave birth to the couple’s firstborn son, Floyd, soon after arriving in February 1955. Floyd was premature at birth and died soon after. Gloria became pregnant again and gave birth to a second son, John, in October 1955.
Unfortunately, John was also premature and died shortly after birth. Floyd and John stayed behind when Simon and Gloria returned to the U.S. a couple years later.
From 1952 to 1971, many American infants who died at the American military hospital in Landstuhl and nearby civilian hospitals were buried in the Kaiserslautern cemetery (Waldfriedhof). Most were 6 months old or younger and died as a result of birth complications or incurable disease. Transportation for a stateside burial was not available through the Department of Defense.
For over three decades, the Kindergraves were scattered throughout different areas of the Kaiserslautern cemetery.
Initially, German and American women cared for the gravesites. In 1986, the Ramstein Area Chief’s Group joined with the German-American International Women’s Club in forming the Kaiserslautern Kindergraves Memorial Foundation. The foundation worked with community leaders to consolidate the children’s graves to one centralized location. The Ramstein Chief’s Group became the official agent in leasing the land where the American children now rest.
The purpose of the KKMF is to “keep the children’s memories alive” by preserving a respectful and eternal resting place for the children. The foundation maintains open communications with families, preserves historical archives, conducts ceremonies, and provides oversight to site maintenance.
While the Kindergraves look as if they receive tender loving care from their families, most of the families returned to America many decades ago. The care and upkeep of the gravesite is performed by American and German volunteers supporting the KKMF. They meet routinely to cut the grass, rake leaves, clean grave markers and tend to the flowers. Private donations fund the maintenance activities.
Each spring, on the Saturday after Mother’s Day, the RACG and GAIWC conduct the Kindergraves memorial ceremony. The Air Force Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Color Guard leads the procession to the Kindergraves where a brief memorial service is conducted.
The ceremony is open to the public. The 2011 memorial ceremony takes place at 10 a.m. May 14 at the Daenner Kaserne Chapel.
For more information regarding the memorial or the history of the Kaiserslautern Kindergraves Memorial Foundation, e-mail Terence DeLay at american_kinder@yahoo.com or visit http://kaiserslautern-kindergraves.org.
(Courtesy of the Kaiserslautern Kindergraves Memorial Foundation)
