“History and Tradition: The Fort Sam Houston Cemetery”

Unit Ministry Team Training: 15 March 2007Part 4

Welcome to Fort Sam Houston Welcome to Fort Sam Houston National CemeteryNational Cemetery

SUMMARYSUMMARY Originally established as a Post Cemetery: Originally established as a Post Cemetery: 19241924 First Burial: First Burial: 19261926 Designated a National Cemetery in: Designated a National Cemetery in: 19371937 Total number of acres: Total number of acres: 155155 FY-2000 Interments: FY-2000 Interments: 3,3393,339 Total number of interments (as of July 31, 2001) Total number of interments (as of July 31, 2001) 95,26995,269 Seventh most active National Cemetery Seventh most active National Cemetery Number of Employees: 49 (11 GS & 38 WGs)Number of Employees: 49 (11 GS & 38 WGs) FY-2001 Budget $ 2,323,700.00FY-2001 Budget $ 2,323,700.00 Medal Of Honor Recipients Interred at FSHNC: Medal Of Honor Recipients Interred at FSHNC: 0909

Satellite Cemeteries:Satellite Cemeteries:– San Antonio National Cemetery: 3,163 IntermentsSan Antonio National Cemetery: 3,163 Interments– Kerrville National Cemetery: 461 IntermentsKerrville National Cemetery: 461 Interments

Memorial Service Detachment Memorial Service Detachment Honor GuardHonor Guard

52 volunteers perform 52 volunteers perform Monday through Monday through Friday.Friday.

Started in 1990, have Started in 1990, have provided military provided military honors for over 10,000 honors for over 10,000 veterans.veterans.

Entrance to FSHNC ExpansionEntrance to FSHNC Expansion

Additional gravesitesAdditional gravesites 2000 Columbarium2000 Columbarium Maintenance Bldg.Maintenance Bldg. Memorial WalkMemorial Walk Irrigation systemIrrigation system New roadwaysNew roadways New fenceNew fence

Columbarium UnitsColumbarium Units

2000 columbarium 2000 columbarium units are installed at units are installed at Fort Sam Houston Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.National Cemetery.

The columbarium The columbarium units will border the units will border the Memorial Walk-Way.Memorial Walk-Way.

Gravesite-Headstone Gravesite-Headstone MaintenanceMaintenance

Fort Sam Houston has Fort Sam Houston has a continuous year- a continuous year- round headstone raise round headstone raise and realignment and realignment program. program.

A total of 10,000 A total of 10,000 headstone were headstone were completed, in-house, completed, in-house, in FY-2000in FY-2000

CAISSON READY TO CAISSON READY TO DEPARTDEPART

323323rdrd ARMY BAND LEADS ARMY BAND LEADS CAISSON TO SHELTERCAISSON TO SHELTER

COLORS AND HONOR COLORS AND HONOR PLATOONPLATOON

PALLBEARERS SECURE PALLBEARERS SECURE CASKETCASKET

The History of Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery

 Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery was originally a post cemetery in 1924. In 1937, it was designated a National Cemetery spanning 75 acres with a grave site capacity of 48,000. Today the cemetery encompasses 155 acres with 95,269 burials.

 Many of the early burials at the cemetery were re-interments from other Texas cemeteries that had been disbanded. Because of these interments, there are veterans of the Civil War, Spanish War and Indian Wars buried at the cemetery. Section ZA is the final resting place for 140 World War II prisoners of war who died while imprisoned in the United States. Most of the German prisoners were captured in Africa during the Allied battle with Field Marshall Erwin Rommel and are buried far from their native lands.

 Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery is the final resting place for nine veterans who were awarded the Medal of Honor. Cecil H. Bolton, William G. Harrell, Lloyd H. Hughes, James E. Robinson, Cleto L. Rodriguez and William J. Borderlon were awarded the Medal for gallantry during World War II; Seth L. Weld, was recognized for valor in the Philippine Insurrection; and Milton A. Lee and Roy Benavidez were awarded the Medal for gallantry during the Vietnam Conflict.

 There are many other heroes interred at this National Cemetery. More than 1,500 graves hold the remains of those who made the supreme sacrifice for their country - 1,365 World War II dead, 135 killed in action in Korea and 360 Vietnam casualties. Four of the Southeast Asia burials are the remains of men missing in action who were returned home many years after the war ended. Lieutenant Colonel Richard Castillo, U.S. Air Force, missing in action in 1972, was returned to his final resting place on October 29, 1986. In 1991, Second Lieutenant Lo Holloway Jr.’s World War II remains were brought home from Belgium after friends at a reunion discovered him listed as missing in action instead of killed in action. Their search led them to the foxhole that had been his grave for 47 years. 

History Continued

One of the most notable veterans buried at the cemetery is Captain William Randolph for whom Randolph Air Force Base is named. Captain Randolph died in a plane crash in 1928 and was interred in Section Q, gravesite 133. More recently, Congressman Frank Tejeda, who served as a major in the United States Marine Corps in Vietnam, was laid to rest at the cemetery in 1997.

 

In May 1937, the remains of 19 black soldiers were moved to the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. 17 were executed for their participation in the 1917 Houston Riot. They were members of the 3 rd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment. They were tried by General Court Martial, sentenced and executed by hanging. They were originally interred near the bank of Salado Creek. Their remains are in Section PA, gravesites 20 to 36. Two, Corporal L.J. Brown and Private Joseph Smith, were disinterred and buried in family plots.

 

Another notable veteran is Raymond Hatfield Gardner, otherwise known as “Arizona Bill”. He was an Indian scout during the Indian Wars and served with the 5 th Regiment Cavalry, Company A and C. Arizona Bill is interred in Section AC, gravesite 287-B.

 

Other notables include 27 Buffalo Soldiers from the 9 th and 10th Cavalry, who served during the Indian Wars era. Their remains were initially buried in the frontier forts where they were assigned, such as Fort Clark, Fort McKintosh and Fort Ringold. As these frontier posts were closed, the remains were disinterred and brought to Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Their remains are now laid to rest in Section PE.

 

Today Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery’s richly landscaped grounds serve as a final resting place for many of America’s brave and beloved men and women. They served so that they might bring peace and security to their country. Although they are all heroes, some stories remain untold.