Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
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Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery is a
United States National Cemetery The United States National Cemetery System is a system of 164 military cemeteries in the United States and its territories. The authority to create military burial places came during the American Civil War, in an act passed by the U.S. ...
in
San Antonio San Antonio ( ; Spanish for " Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the ...
, Texas. Administered by the
United States Department of Veterans Affairs The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government charged with providing lifelong healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 170 VA medical centers an ...
, it encompasses , and as of 2014, had over 144,000 interments. The cemetery was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
in 2016.


History

Although the Army post in the area was established in 1875, and construction of
Fort Sam Houston Fort Sam Houston is a United States Army, U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas. "Fort Sam Houston, TX • About Fort Sam Houston" (overview), US Army, 2007, webpageSH-Army. Known colloquially as "Fort Sam", it is named for the first president o ...
began the following year, no burials were made in the area that is currently the cemetery until 1926. In 1931 were added as an addition to San Antonio National Cemetery. In 1937, the addition became a National Cemetery in its own right, renamed Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. In 1947 several other forts in
Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...
, including Fort McIntosh, were closed and their cemetery interments were transferred to Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Interred at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery are 140 Axis
prisoners of war A prisoner of war (POW) is a person held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold prisoners of war for a ...
(POWs) from
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
who died in captivity. 133 are German, 4 are Italian, and 3 are Japanese. These POWs were disinterred from various Texas POW camps and reburied at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. When originally interred, these graves were isolated from the American graves. Two gravestones marked with
swastika The swastika (卐 or 卍, ) is a symbol used in various Eurasian religions and cultures, as well as a few Indigenous peoples of Africa, African and Indigenous peoples of the Americas, American cultures. In the Western world, it is widely rec ...
s were replaced on December 24, 2020. The Military Religious Freedom Foundation had demanded their removal in May 2020, but the Veterans Administration (VA) resisted on the grounds that they were historical. The VA resisted until Senator
Ted Cruz Rafael Edward Cruz (; born December 22, 1970) is an American politician and attorney serving as the junior United States senator from Texas since 2013. A member of the Republican Party, Cruz was the solicitor general of Texas from 2003 ...
(R-TX) and Congressmen
Will Hurd William Ballard Hurd (born August 19, 1977) is an American politician and former CIA clandestine officer who served as the U.S. representative for from 2015 to 2021. Following a nine-year stint with the CIA, Hurd ran for Congress in 2010 and ...
(R-TX23) and
Kay Granger Norvell Kay Granger (born January 18, 1943) is an American politician who served as the United States House of Representatives, U.S. representative for Texas's 12th congressional district from 1997 to 2025. A Republican Party (United States), Re ...
(R-TX12) put pressure on them. In February 2023, the Department of Veterans Affairs dedicated new headstones at the cemetery for 17 black soldiers who were wrongly blamed and executed for a
race riot This is a list of ethnic riots by country, and includes riots based on Ethnic conflict, ethnic, Sectarian violence, sectarian, xenophobic, and Racial conflict, racial conflict. Some of these riots can also be classified as pogroms. Africa A ...
that occurred in 1917. The military trials were marked by irregularities, a rush to judgment and the failure to appoint an attorney to defend the men. Most of those executed were initially buried in unmarked graves, then reburied at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in 1937 with only their names and dates of death inscribed. Army Secretary
Christine Wormuth Christine E. Wormuth (born April 19, 1969) is an American defense official and career civil servant who served as the United States Secretary of the Army, United States secretary of the Army from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party (Un ...
vacated the soldiers’ convictions in 2023 and their records now reflect honorable discharges. New headstones have been provided by the VA.


Notable interments

*
Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...
recipients ** Staff Sergeant Lucian Adams, for action in World War II. ** Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez, for action in the
Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...
. ** Colonel Cecil Hamilton Bolton, for action in World War II. ** Staff Sergeant William J. Bordelon, for action at the
Battle of Tarawa The Battle of Tarawa was fought on 20–23 November 1943 between the United States and Japan on Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands, and was part of Operation Galvanic, the U.S. invasion of the Gilberts. Nearly 6,400 Japanese, Koreans, and Am ...
in World War II. ** Platoon Sergeant William George Harrell, for action at
Battle of Iwo Jima The was a major battle in which the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and United States Navy (USN) landed on and eventually captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) during World War II. The American invasion, desi ...
in World War II. ** Second Lieutenant Lloyd Herbert Hughes, for action in
Operation Tidal Wave Operation Tidal Wave was an air attack by bombers of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) based in Libya on nine oil refineries around Ploiești, Romania, on 1 August 1943, during World War II. It was a strategic bombing mission and part o ...
in World War II. ** Private Milton A. Lee, for action in the Vietnam War. ** Sergeant First Class Jose M. Lopez, for action in World War II. ** First Lieutenant James E. Robinson, Jr., for action in World War II. ** Chief Warrant Officer Louis R. Rocco, for action in the Vietnam War. ** Master Sergeant Cleto Luna Rodriguez, for action in World War II. ** Colonel
Seth Lathrop Weld Seth Lathrop Weld (February 19, 1879 – December 20, 1958) was a soldier in the United States Army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the Philippine–American War. Weld joined the Army from Altamont, Tennessee, in April 1899, and ...
, for action in the
Philippine–American War The Philippine–American War, known alternatively as the Philippine Insurrection, Filipino–American War, or Tagalog Insurgency, emerged following the conclusion of the Spanish–American War in December 1898 when the United States annexed th ...
. * Other notable interments ** Colonel
Charlie Beckwith Charles Alvin Beckwith (22 January 1929 – 13 June 1994) was a career United States Army Special Forces officer best remembered for creating Delta Force, the premier counterterrorism and asymmetric warfare unit of the United States Army, b ...
, creator of
1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta The 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment–Delta (1st SFOD-D), also known as Delta Force, Combat Applications Group (CAG), or within Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) as Task Force Green, is a special operations force of the United ...
(Delta Force). ** Colonel
Doc Blanchard Felix Anthony "Doc" Blanchard (December 11, 1924 – April 19, 2009) was an American football player and serviceman who became the first junior to win the Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award, and was the first football player to win the James E ...
,
Heisman Trophy The Heisman Memorial Trophy ( ; also known simply as the Heisman) is awarded annually since 1935 to the top player in college football. It is considered the most prestigious award in the sport and is presented by the Heisman Trophy Trust followin ...
winner for 1945 ** Brigadier General
Oscar Bergstrom Abbott Oscar Bergstrom Abbott (October 8, 1890 – October 1, 1969) was an American brigadier general during World War II. Early life and education Abbott was born on October 8, 1890, in San Antonio, Texas. He attended the Agricultural and Mechanical ...
, Commanding General of
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during World War II. ** Brigadier General Bertram A. Bone, USMC; was a Commanding officer of 1st Defense Battalion during World War II. ** General Richard E. Cavazos, United States Army's first Hispanic four-star general. ** Lt. Colonel
Granville C. Coggs Granville C. Coggs (July 30, 1925 – May 6, 2019) was an American medical doctor, radiologist, U.S. Army Air Force/U.S. Air Force/ U.S. Air Force Reserves officer, and trained bombardier pilot with the 477th Bombardment Group attached to the f ...
, prominent U.S. medical doctor, U.S. Army Air Force/U.S. Air Force/U.S. Air Force Reserves officer, and trained bombardier pilot with the famed Tuskegee Airmen or "Red Tails." First African American to serve as a staff physician at the Kaiser Hospital in
San Francisco, California San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...
. ** Major General Mary E. Clarke, final director of the
Women's Army Corps The Women's Army Corps (WAC; ) was the women's branch of the United States Army. It was created as an auxiliary unit, the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), on 15 May 1942, and converted to an active duty status in the Army of the United S ...
** Lt. Colonel Richard E. Cole, Doolitle Raider ** Brigadier General Lillian Dunlap, former chief of the
United States Army Nurse Corps The United States Army Nurse Corps (USANC) was formally established by the U.S. Congress in 1901. It is one of the six medical special branches (or "corps") of officers which – along with medical enlisted soldiers – comprise the Army Medica ...
, recipient of the U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal, the
Meritorious Service Medal A Meritorious Service Medal is an award presented to denote acts of meritorious service, and sometimes gallantry, that are worthy of recognition. Notable medals with similar names include: Singapore *Pingat Jasa Gemilang, or Meritorious Services Me ...
, and the
Army Commendation Medal The Commendation Medal is a mid-level Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, United States military decoration presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. Each branch of the United States Armed Forces issu ...
(with
oak leaf cluster An oak leaf cluster is a ribbon device to denote preceding decorations and awards consisting of a miniature bronze or silver twig of four oak leaves with three acorns on the stem. It is authorized by the United States Armed Forces for a spec ...
). ** Gustavo "Gus" C. Garcia, Mexican-American civil rights attorney **
Joseph A. Green Joseph Andrew Green (January 14, 1881 – October 27, 1963) was a United States Army officer with the rank of Major General (United States), major general, who is most noted as a U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps, Chief of the Coast Artillery ...
, commander of Coastal Artillery Corps **
Robert Gottschall Robert Elmer Gottschall"Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VDFD-T4C : 1 January 2015), Robert Elmer Gottschall, 15 Sep 1915; from "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database and images, Anc ...
, actor working under the name Robert Shaw, and former United States Army Lieutenant Colonel. ** Lieutenant General Charles P. Hall, commanded the 93rd Infantry Division and XI Corps in World War II. ** General Henry I. Hodes, U.S. Army four-star general ** Major General
Harry H. Johnson Harry Hubbard Johnson (April 11, 1895 – August 6, 1986) was a United States army officer with the rank of major general, who commanded 2nd Cavalry Division and 93rd Infantry Division during World War II. He was inducted to the Texas Milit ...
, commander of the 2nd Cavalry Division and 93rd Infantry Division during World War II. ** Captain
Norman Kleiss Norman Jack "Dusty" Kleiss (March 7, 1916 – April 22, 2016) was a dive-bomber pilot in the United States Navy during World War II. He was the only pilot to hit three Japanese ships with bombs during the Battle of Midway. Early life Norman Jack ...
,
Naval aviator Naval aviation / Aeronaval is the application of military air power by navies, whether from warships that embark aircraft, or land bases. It often involves '' navalised aircraft'', specifically designed for naval use. Seaborne aviation encompas ...
awarded the
Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the United States Naval Service's second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is equivalent to the Army ...
for his actions in the
Battle of Midway The Battle of Midway was a major naval battle in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II, Pacific Theater of World War II that took place on 4–7 June 1942, six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor and one month after the Battle of t ...
. ** Brigadier General Charles I. Murray, USMC. A recipient of Navy Cross and Army Distinguished Service Cross. ** Colonel
Ralph Parr Colonel Ralph Sherman Parr, Jr. (July 1, 1924 – December 7, 2012) was an American double-flying ace of the Korean War. He was credited with a total of ten downed enemy aircraft. He also flew in World War II and the Vietnam War, and is the only p ...
, WW II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veteran; only person to be awarded
Distinguished Service Cross The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries. *Distinguished Service Cross (Australia) *Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) *Distinguished Service Cross (U ...
and Air Force Cross; credited with ten aerial kills (double ace) during Korean War, including the last aerial kill of the war - an Il-12. ** Brigadier General John L. Pierce, World War II commander of
16th Armored Division The 16th Armored Division was an armored division of the United States Army in World War II. In its one and only combat operation, the 16th Armored Division liberated the city of Plzeň in western Czechoslovakia (today the Czech Republic), an ...
in European theater. ** Captain William Millican Randolph, namesake of
Randolph Air Force Base Randolph Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Bexar County, Texas, ( east-northeast of Downtown San Antonio). Opened in 1931, Randolph has been a flying training facility for the United States Army Air Corps, the United ...
. ** Major General
Emil F. Reinhardt Emil Fred Reinhardt (October 27, 1888 – July 24, 1969) was a United States Army officer who served from 1910 to 1946 and attained the rank of major general. He is most noted during World War II as commander of the 69th Infantry Division, whic ...
, World War II commander of 69th Infantry Division and
IX Corps 9 Corps, 9th Corps, Ninth Corps, or IX Corps may refer to: France * 9th Army Corps (France) * IX Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars Germany * IX Corps (German Empire), a unit of the Imperial German ...
. **
Joe Sage Joseph F. Sage (August 24, 1920 – January 9, 1977) was an American politician. He served as a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives. Sage attended Pottsville High School, Trinity University, Saint Louis University and Dra ...
, member of the
Texas House of Representatives The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Texas Legislature. It consists of 150 members who are elected from single-member districts for two-year terms. There are no Term limits in the United States, term limits. The ...
from Bexar County from 1973 to 1975 **
Frank Tejeda Frank Mariano Tejeda (October 2, 1945 – January 30, 1997) was an American Democratic politician from Texas. He served in the Texas House of Representatives (1976–1987), the Texas Senate (1987–1993), and in the United States House of Represe ...
,
US Congress The United States Congress is the legislature, legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, including a Lower house, lower body, the United States House of Representatives, ...
man. ** Colonel
Gerald Evan Williams Gerald Evan Williams (December 17, 1907 – February 17, 1949) was an American officer in the Ninth Air Force during World War II. Background and family Gerald Evan Williams was born in Bridgewater, Maine to Myron Luther Williams and Lottie Bel ...
, Commander of the 391st Bombardment Group, 1943–1945 ** Major General Roscoe B. Woodruff, World War II commander of 77th and 24th Infantry Divisions and VII Corps in both European and Pacific theaters. ** Colonel Edward J. York, Doolitle Raider **Carlos Martinez, CEO and President of the American GI Forum National Veterans Outreach Program * Other noteworthy interments ** 27 Buffalo Soldiers who served during the
Indian Wars The American Indian Wars, also known as the American Frontier Wars, and the Indian Wars, was a conflict initially fought by European colonial empires, the United States, and briefly the Confederate States of America and Republic of Texas agains ...
. ** 140 Axis prisoners of war from World War II. ** 4 British
Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...
officers from World War II.


References


External links


National Cemetery Administration

Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
* * * {{Find a Grave cemetery Historic American Landscapes Survey in Texas United States national cemeteries 1875 establishments in Texas Geography of San Antonio Protected areas of Bexar County, Texas Tourist attractions in San Antonio Cemeteries on the National Register of Historic Places in Texas National Register of Historic Places in San Antonio Joint Base San Antonio