Barrancas National Cemetery
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| Barrancas National Cemetery | |
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| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
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| Location: | Pensacola, Florida, US |
| Coordinates: | Coordinates: |
| Added to NRHP: | February 12, 1998 |
| NRHP Reference#: | 98000083 |
| MPS: | Civil War Era National Cemeteries MPS |
| Governing body: | Federal |
Barrancas National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located at Naval Air Station Pensacola, in the city of Pensacola, Florida. It encompasses 94.9 acres, and as of the end of 2005, had 32,643 interments.
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[edit] History
The area has been used as a burial ground since the construction of Fort Barrancas. In 1838 it was established as a United States Navy cemetery. During the Civil War, Pensacola was hotly contested, as it was considered to be the best port for access to the Gulf of Mexico. Numerous soldiers on both sides were interred in the cemetery after falling in combat, or dying in nearby hospitals. After the war, in 1868, Barrancas was officially made a National Cemetery and many other nearby makeshift burial grounds were disinterred and relocated to Barrancas. In each year, 1944, 1950, 1986, and 1990, more area was transferred from NAS Pensacola to expand the facilities for the cemetery.
[edit] Notable monuments
Barrancas National Cemetery has a monument honoring those soldiers who died from yellow fever. It was erected in 1884 by the Marine Guard of the Pensacola Navy Yard.
[edit] Notable interments
- Commander Clyde Everett Lassen, Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Vietnam War.
- Major Stephen W. Pless, Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Vietnam War.
- Staff Sergeant Clifford Chester Sims, Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Vietnam War.
- Colonel Arthur D. Simons, Special Forces legend and leader of the Son Tay raid
- Admiral Maurice F. Weisner, former commander of US Pacific Command
- "Ga-Ah", one of the many wives of the Apache Indian Geronimo, who died of Bright's disease while being held captive.
- 17 casualties of the 2nd Seminole War.
- 10 British aviators killed during training at the Naval Air Station during World War II.
