Fort Bliss National Cemetery
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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. It encompasses 82.1 acres, and as of the end of 2005, had 42,141 interments.
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[edit] 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, 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.
In 1955, to make way for highway construction, the Fort's namesake Lieutenant Colonel William Wallace Smith Bliss was disinterred from Girard Street Cemetery in New Orleans, Louisiana and brought to Fort Bliss, along with the monument erected in his memory.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Notable interments
- Staff Sergeant Ambrosio Guillen, Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Korean War.
- Corporal Benito Martinez, Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Korean War.
- Corporal Frank Brattling, Medal of Honor recipient for action in New Mexico Territory during the Indian Wars.
- Private George Hooker, Medal of Honor recipient for action in Arizona Territory during the Indian Wars.
- Lieutenant Colonel William Wallace Smith Bliss, Adjutant General of the Western Division of the Army in 1850, married the youngest daughter of President Zachary Taylor.
- John Reynolds, actor.
