U.S. officials removed two displays about Black American troops from the Netherlands American Cemetery, prompting criticism in the Netherlands and calls for the information to be restored.
The Washington Post reported that the panels were added in September 2024 after historians and relatives said the site overlooked the experiences of Black service members.
One described the actions of George H. Pruitt, a soldier in the 43rd Signal Construction Battalion who died attempting to save another soldier.
The other explained how Black troops fought overseas while also facing discrimination at home.
American and Dutch critics said the removal erases the contributions of Black Americans who helped liberate the Netherlands during World War II.
They also said the decision appears to align with the current administration's views on diversity programs.
The American Battle Monuments Commission has not explained when or why the panels were taken down.
The agency told Dutch outlets that one display is off the floor but still in rotation, and a second is retired. The commission did not give further details.
More than 8,000 American troops are buried at the Margraten cemetery, including more than 170 Black service members.
Local residents have tended graves for decades, and the visitor center was created to highlight personal stories from the war.
One of the removed displays described how a mostly Black unit, the 960th Quartermaster Service Company, arrived in 1944 to dig graves.
It included a quote from 1st Lt. Jefferson Wiggins about soldiers under his command being traumatized by the work.
Researchers say there is now no information in the center addressing Black troops.
Dutch officials have asked U.S. authorities to restore the displays. They said the history of Black American troops is essential to understanding the liberation of the Netherlands.
The American Battle Monuments Commission had not responded to a request by Newsmax for information about the removal of the displays by the time this report was published.
Jim Mishler ✉
Jim Mishler, a seasoned reporter, anchor and news director, has decades of experience covering crime, politics and environmental issues.
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