Fort Bliss National Cemetery
Fort Bliss National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in the United States Army post of Fort Bliss, in El Paso County, Texas. Administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, it encompasses 82.1 acres (33.2 ha), and as of 2014, had over 50,000 interments.
History
Fort Bliss itself was not established until the 1840s, but burials were made in the area of the cemetery as early as 1833. The fort was used as a Confederate infantry post during the American Civil War, and later it was changed to a cavalry post for training during World War I, and then became a demobilization camp after the war. In 1914 the cemetery was only 2.2 acres (0.89 ha), and another 2.2 acres were added during the war. In 1939, funds were allocated for improvements and plans were approved to make it into a National Cemetery.
Aside from American soldiers, Fort Bliss National Cemetery was chosen by the Chinese government the place of interment for 55 Chinese air force cadets who died while training at the Fort in 1944. There are also several German prisoners of war, and three Japanese civilians who were transferred from a cemetery in Lordsburg, New Mexico, as well as one German scientist who died while participating in research projects at Fort Bliss during World War II. An officer of the British Royal Air Force from the same war is also buried here.[1]
In 1955, to make way for new construction in the New Orleans Central Business District, the remains of the Fort's namesake Lieutenant Colonel William Wallace Smith Bliss (1815–1853) were disinterred from Girod Street Cemetery in New Orleans, Louisiana, and brought to Fort Bliss, along with the monument erected in his memory.
Notable monuments
- A monument dedicated to the United States Coast Guard and Navy personnel who died in the attack on Pearl Harbor, erected by Pearl Harbor Survivors Association in 1984.
- The Military Order of the World Wars, a monument dedicated to the officers in military service, erected in 1986.
- The American Prisoners of War Monument, dedicated to all prisoners of war, erected in 1986.
Notable interments
- Medal of Honor recipients
- Corporal Frank Bratling (1845–1873), for action in New Mexico Territory during the Indian Wars (cenotaph)[2]
- Master Sergeant Victor Hugo Espinoza (1928–1986), for action in the Korean War[3]
- Staff Sergeant Ambrosio Guillen (1929–1953), for action in the Korean War
- Private George Hooker (1847–1873), for action in Arizona Territory during the Indian Wars (cenotaph)[4]
- Corporal Benito Martinez (1932–1952), for action in the Korean War
- Others
- Major General Terry de la Mesa Allen, Sr. (1888–1969), decorated World War I veteran and World War II division commander
- Lieutenant Colonel William Wallace Smith Bliss (1815–1853), Adjutant General of the Western Division of the Army in 1850, married the youngest daughter of President Zachary Taylor
- Lieutenant General Hobart R. Gay (1894–1983), World War II general and Korean War division commander
- Sherman Hemsley (1938–2012), actor and United States Air Force veteran
- Brigadier General S.L.A. Marshall (1900–1977), military historian and author
- Goose Tatum (1921–1967), Harlem Globetrotters star and World War II US Army Air Force veteran
- Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA) William O. Wooldridge (1922–2012), first Sergeant Major of the Army
References
- ↑ [1] CWGC casualty report.
- ↑ Corp Frank Bratling at Find a Grave
- ↑ Victor Hugo Espinoza at Find a Grave
- ↑ George Hooker at Find a Grave
External links
- National Cemetery Administration
- Fort Bliss National Cemetery
- Fort Bliss National Disgrace Video
- Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS) No. TX-2, "Fort Bliss National Cemetery, 5200 Fred Wilson Boulevard, El Paso, El Paso County, TX", 37 photos, 3 photo caption pages
- U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Fort Bliss National Cemetery
- Fort Bliss National Cemetery at Find a Grave
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