Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
Encyclopedia
United States National Cemetery
"United States National Cemetery" is a designation for 146 nationally important cemeteries in the United States. A National Cemetery is generally a military cemetery containing the graves of U.S. military personnel, veterans and their spouses but not exclusively so...
in the city of San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
in Bexar County, Texas
Bexar County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,392,931 people, 488,942 households, and 345,681 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,117 people per square mile . There were 521,359 housing units at an average density of 418 per square mile...
. It encompasses 154.7 acre (0.626049242 km²), and as of the end of 2008, had 120,982 interments.
History
Although the Army post in the area was established in 1875, and construction of Fort Sam HoustonFort Sam Houston
Fort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas.Known colloquially as "Fort Sam," it is named for the first President of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston....
was constructed the following year no burials were made in the area that is currently the cemetery until 1926. In 1931 an additional 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) were added, and it was considered to be an addition to San Antonio National Cemetery
San Antonio National Cemetery
San Antonio National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery in the city of San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas. It encompasses , and as of the end of 2005, had 3,163 interments.- History :...
. In 1937, it was made a National Cemetery in its own right and renamed to Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. In 1947 several other Forts in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, including Fort McIntosh
Fort McIntosh (Texas)
Fort McIntosh was a military base in Laredo, Webb County, Texas, that existed from 1849 to 1946.Fort McIntosh was established in 1849 to guard the Texas frontier at the site of a strategicriver crossing...
, 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
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
(POWs) from World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
who Died in captivity. 133 are German, 4 are Italian, and 3 are Japanese. After the end of hostilities most POWs who died in captivity were returned to their respective countries, these 140 were disinterred from various Texas prisoner of war camps and reburied at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Of these POW's who are buried at Fort Sam Houston, one is Hugo Krauss who was murdered by fellow Nazi POW's in Camp Hearne in 1943. When originally interred these graves were isolated from the American graves. There are two graves that have been erroneously documented as "Nazi" graves because they have been marked with the Knight's Cross
Knight's Cross
Knight's Cross refers to a distinguishing grade or level of various orders that denotes bravery and leadership on the battlefield....
and a pro-nazi slogan on the headstone, the Knight's Cross markings merely represent that these two soldiers were at one time awarded the Knight's Cross, one Germany's highest awards. These soldiers were probably members of Germany's famed "Afrika Korps
Afrika Korps
The German Africa Corps , or the Afrika Korps as it was popularly called, was the German expeditionary force in Libya and Tunisia during the North African Campaign of World War II...
" who were taken prisoner in North Afrika.
Notable interments
- Staff Sergeant Lucian AdamsLucian AdamsStaff Sergeant Lucian Adams was a United States Army soldier during World War II who received the Medal of Honor for single-handedly destroying enemy machine gun emplacements to re-establish supply lines to U.S. Army companies...
, Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient for action in World War II. - Lieutenant General Roscoe B. WoodruffRoscoe B. WoodruffRoscoe Barnett Woodruff was a career U.S. Army officer who served in World War I and as a combat division and corps commander in both European and Pacific theaters of World War II.-Education and early career:...
, World War II commander of 77th and 24th Infantry Divisions and VII Corps in both European and Pacific theaters. - Colonel Charlie Beckwith Creator of 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (Delta Force).
- Master Sergeant Roy BenavidezRoy BenavidezRaul Perez Benavidez was a member of the Studies and Observations Group of the United States Army. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions in combat near Lộc Ninh, South Vietnam on May 2, 1968....
, Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Vietnam WarVietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. - Colonel Cecil Hamilton Bolton, Medal of Honor recipient for action in World War II.
- Staff Sergeant William J. BordelonWilliam J. Bordelon....
, Medal of Honor recipient for action at the Battle of TarawaBattle of TarawaThe Battle of Tarawa, code named Operation Galvanic, was a battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II, largely fought from November 20 to November 23, 1943. It was the first American offensive in the critical central Pacific region....
in World War II. - Lieutenant General Charles P. HallCharles P. HallCharles Philip Hall was an American General most notable for being the commander of the U.S. Army's XI Corps during World War II and the principal commander during the Battle of Bataan to liberate the Philippines from Japanese forces.-Early career and World War I:Hall was born in Sardis,...
, commanded the 93rd Infantry Division and XI Corps in World War II. - Platoon Sergeant William George Harrell, Medal of Honor recipient for action at Battle of Iwo JimaBattle of Iwo JimaThe Battle of Iwo Jima , or Operation Detachment, was a major battle in which the United States fought for and captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Empire of Japan. The U.S...
in World War II. - General Henry I. HodesHenry I. HodesHenry Irving Hodes was a United States Army four star general who served as Commander in Chief, U.S. Army Europe/Commander, Central Army Group from 1956 to 1959.-Military career:...
, U.S. Army four star general - Second Lieutenant Lloyd Herbert HughesLloyd Herbert HughesLloyd Herbert "Pete" Hughes, Jr., , a second lieutenant in the United States Army Air Forces who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Operation Tidal Wave during World War II.-Early life and family:...
, Medal of Honor recipient for action in Operation Tidal Wave in World War II. - Major GeneralMajor GeneralMajor general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Harry H. JohnsonHarry H. JohnsonHarry Hubbard Johnson was born in Glenflora, Texas, six miles from his later hometown of Eagle Lake, Texas. He was the only son of Harry Stafford Johnson and Annie Bell Hubbard .His mother Annie died in 1908 when he...
, commander of the 2nd Cavalry Division2nd Cavalry Division (United States)-Heraldry:SHOULDER SLEEVE INSIGNIA*Description: On a yellow Norman shield with a green border, a blue chevron below two eight-pointed blue stars.*Blazon: Or, a chevron azure, in chief 2 mullets of eight points of the second, a bordure vert....
and 93rd Infantry Division during World War 2. - Private Milton A. LeeMilton A. LeeMilton Arthur Lee was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.-Biography:...
, Medal of Honor, Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Vietnam War. - Sergeant First Class Jose M. LopezJose M. LopezJose Mendoza Lopez was a United States Army soldier who was awarded the United States' highest military decoration for valor in combat — the Medal of Honor — for his heroic actions during the Battle of the Bulge, in which he single-handedly repulsed a German infantry attack, killing at...
, Medal of Honor recipient for action in World War II. - Captain William Randolph, namesake of Randolph Air Force BaseRandolph Air Force BaseRandolph Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located east-northeast of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 902d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command ....
. - First Lieutenant James E. Robinson, Jr.James E. Robinson, Jr.James E. Robinson, Jr. was a United States Army officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II....
, Medal of Honor recipient for action in World War II. - Chief Warrant Officer Louis R. RoccoLouis R. RoccoChief Warrant Officer Louis Richard Rocco was a United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor—the United States' highest military decoration—for his actions near the village of Katum, in the Republic of Vietnam, during the Vietnam War...
, Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Vietnam War. - Master Sergeant Cleto Luna Rodriguez, Medal of Honor recipient for action in World war II.
- Frank TejedaFrank TejedaFrank Mariano Tejeda was a decorated United States Marine and an American Democratic politician from Texas. He served in the Texas House of Representatives , the Texas Senate , and in the United States House of Representatives .-Biography:Frank M. Tejeda was born in San Antonio, Texas. He attended...
, US Congressman. - Colonel Seth Lathrop Weld, Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Philippine-American WarPhilippine-American WarThe Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...
. - 27 Buffalo SoldierBuffalo SoldierBuffalo Soldiers originally were members of the U.S. 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, formed on September 21, 1866 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas....
s who served during the Indian WarsIndian WarsAmerican Indian Wars is the name used in the United States to describe a series of conflicts between American settlers or the federal government and the native peoples of North America before and after the American Revolutionary War. The wars resulted from the arrival of European colonizers who...
. - 140 Axis prisoners of war from World War II.