The site was liberated on 2 August 1944 by the 8th Infantry Division; a temporary military cemetery was established on it three days later.

The design and construction of all cemetery facilities in the permanent World War I and II cemeteries, were the responsibility of the American Battle Monuments Commission (i.e., the memorial, chapel, visitors' building, superintendent's quarters, service facilities and paths, roads and walls).

"Youth Triumphing Over Evil" designed by Lee Lawrie of Easton, Maryland and executed in Chauvigny limestone from the Poitiers region by Jean Juge of Paris.

Over the entrance door is a sculpture group, also designed by Lee Lawrie and executed by Jean Juge, consisting of an eagle, shield, stars, laurel and arrows representing the Great Seal of the United States; the shield is flanked by two floating angels representing victory.

Below the sculpture over the tympanum is the inscription: IN MEMORY OF THE VALOR AND THE SACRIFICES WHICH CONSECRATE THIS SOILThere are 4,410 American military personnel buried in the cemetery.

At the far (east) end of the mall is a rectangular stone cenotaph of LaPyrie granite designed by Lee Lawrie and executed by the French sculptor, Augustine Beggi.