Unknown Soldier Records Vanished Forever

In October 1921, the U.S. Army exhumed one unidentified World War I soldier from each of four American cemeteries in France so one could be buried at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Officials destroyed every document connected to the remains, shuffled the four caskets at random, and ensured that none of the men could ever be identified. On October 24, decorated veteran Sergeant Edward F. Younger selected one casket by laying a spray of white roses on it. The chosen soldier was carried to Arlington National Cemetery, while the other three were reburied at Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in France.

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