Burial at Fort Bliss National Cemetery: A family guide

History of Fort Bliss National Cemetery

Fort Bliss National Cemetery, is located within the Fort Bliss Military Reservation in El Paso County, Texas. It was one of seven national cemeteries created between world wars, 1934–1939, to increase the size of the national cemetery system. It was the first major expansion since the Civil War needed due to a growing veteran population and rapidly depleting burial space at existing national cemeteries. New cemetery locations were based on veterans' places of residence. The other interwar national cemeteries are Baltimore, Maryland; Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Fort Snelling, Minnesota; Fort Rosecrans and Golden Gate, California; and Long Island, New York.

Fort Bliss was established after the Mexican-American War (18464–1848) to protect newly acquired territories. The first garrison arrived at the post on the Rio Grande in late 1849. It was officially named in 1854 to honor Lt. Col. William Wallace Smith Bliss (1815–1853)—Chief of Staff to General Zachary Taylor during the war, then son-in-law and personal secretary to him during his presidency. Bliss died of yellow fever on August 5, 1853, while serving as adjutant general of the Army's Western Division. His remains were relocated to the namesake fort in 1955.

The U.S. Army abandoned Fort Bliss during the Civil War and it was occupied by Confederates until they destroyed it following a Union victory at Glorieta Pass, New Mexico Territory, in 1862. The fort was rebuilt and relocated multiple times before its final iteration, five miles east of El Paso, TX, was completed in 1893. It played a minor role in mobilization efforts for the Spanish-American War and Philippine Insurrection (1898–1902). In 1914, it switched from infantry to a cavalry post; Maj. Gen. John J. Pershing was stationed here when tasked with leading an expedition into Mexico to capture Pancho Villa (1916–1917). The fort was a training and demobilization center during World War I (1917–1918), and during World War II (1941–1945) it was the primary training site for anti-aircraft artillery and served as an internment camp for small numbers of enemy prisoners of war. It remains one of the Army's largest and most versatile properties.

Fort Bliss National Cemetery spans roughly 82 acres that was part of the Fort Bliss Military Reservation. The first recorded burials at the fort were in 1863 and the first identified burial was in October 1866. A 2-acre post cemetery was established in 1893 at what is the southeast corner of the larger cemetery, set apart by a stone wall erected in 1914. The need for additional burial space after World War I led Congress to authorize a national cemetery here in June 1936. Construction funds were not appropriated until 1939, after which a stone entrance gate and Spanish Revival-style lodge were completed. The following year the cemetery was improved by the addition of a Neoclassical rostrum made of Texas pink granite and a stone enclosure wall erected by Works Progress Administration laborers. Fort Bliss National Cemetery's first interment was held on March 7, 1940.

Notable veterans buried at Fort Bliss National Cemetery

The National Cemetery Administration documents the following veterans of note buried at Fort Bliss National Cemetery, listed by section and site as recorded in the cemetery's official register.

• Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. Recipients receive the Medal of Honor from the President on behalf of Congress. It was first awarded during the Civil War and the eligibility criteria, medal design, and recognition on a recipients' grave marker have all evolved over time. There are 434 Medal of Honor recipients interred at VA national cemeteries including 6 double recipients.
• » Medal of Honor recipients interred or memorialized here:
• Corporal Frank Bratling (Indian Wars). Frank Bratling received the Medal of Honor posthumously for service in the U.S. Army, Company C, 8th U.S. Cavalry, in recognition of his actions near Fort Selden, New Mexico Territory, July 8–11, 1873. Bratling is memorialized in Section MA, Site 29.
• Master Sergeant Victor Hugo Espinoza Jr. (Korea). Texan Victor Hugo Espinoza Jr., enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1950 and was a member of the Acting Rifleman Company A, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, until September 23, 1952. On March 14, 2014, Espinoza received the Medal of Honor for singly assaulting enemy forces on August 1, 1952, in Chorwon. Espinoza died April 17, 1986, and is buried in Section F, Site 1115.
• Staff Sergeant Ambrosio Guillen (Korea). Ambrosio Guillen, native of Colorado, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1947. Staff Sergeant Guillen served with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. On July 25, 1953, Guillen's unit was attacked by two enemy battalions. Already wounded, Guillen refused treatment until the enemy retreated. Guillen died of his wounds on July 25, 1953. He received the Medal of Honor August 18, 1954, posthumously, for personal valor near Songuch-on, Korea, and is buried in Section E, Site 9171.
• Private George Hooker (Indian Wars). George Hooker received the Medal of Honor posthumously for service in the U.S. Army, Company K, 5th U.S. Cavalry, in recognition of his actions at Tonto Creek, Arizona Territory, January 22, 1873. Hooker is memorialized in Section MA, Site 30.
• Corporal Benito Martinez (Korea). Texan Benito Martinez enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1951 and served as a machine-gunner with Company A, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. During action near Satae-ri, Korea, Corporal Martinez volunteered to hold the position, and allow comrades to reorganize, attack, and regain key terrain. Martinez was killed in action on September 6, 1952. He received the Medal of Honor posthumously, on December 29, 1953, and is buried in Section B, Site 366A.
• Other Burials Fort Bliss Military Reservation and the national cemetery were named after William Wallace Smith Bliss. Bliss was born in Whitehall, New York, on August 17, 1815. He entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in September 1829 and graduated July 1, 1833. Ranked ninth in a class of forty-three graduates, the 17-year-old was considered a prodigy whose classmates dubbed him "Perfect Bliss." Later, Zachary Taylor's family gave him the same nickname. The scholarly Bliss spoke six languages and could read in thirteen languages. His expansive proficiency ranged from philosophy to poetry to military tactics. His first post, as a second lieutenant in the infantry, was in engagements against the Cherokee Indians (1833–1835) related to their forced removal from the southern United States. From 1834–1840 he taught mathematics at West Point. His service in the field against the Florida Indians (1840–1841) was followed by accompanying General Zachary Taylor to the Grand Council of Indian tribes in Oklahoma. He was then appointed adjutant general of the 16th Military Department until 1845. That August he became chief of staff to General Taylor, and served with him throughout the military occupation of Texas and the Mexican War. He was promoted the rank of brevet major in May 1846 for gallant and meritorious conduct during the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma; similar recognition and the rank of brevet lieutenant colonel occurred in February 1847 for actions at the battle of Buena Vista. From 1842 onwards he was a key staffer to "Old Rough and Ready"; it was said that with Bliss at his elbow, General Taylor could count on trustworthy and honest, competent advice. Bliss married Taylor's youngest daughter, Mary Elizabeth, in December 1848, following Taylor's election to the presidency. Mary Taylor Bliss took on the duties of official hostess at the White House. In July 1850, Colonel Bliss was assigned as adjutant general of the Western Division of the Army in New Orleans. On August 5, 1853, he died at Pascagoula, Mississippi, a victim of yellow fever; he was buried in the Protestant Cemetery on Girod Street in New Orleans. On November 22, 1955, Bliss's remains were interred in this national cemetery with full military honors.

Eligibility for burial at Fort Bliss National Cemetery

Planning ahead for a Veteran's or loved-one's final resting place can eliminate unnecessary delays and reduce stress on a family at a difficult time.

The Department of Veterans Affairs covers the grave plot, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government-furnished headstone or marker, and a U.S. burial flag at no cost to eligible families.

Visiting hours

Visitation Hours: Open daily from sunrise to sunset. Office Hours: Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed federal holidays except Memorial Day. VA will continue its practice of honoring special requests for weekend burials for religious purposes, in cases of service members killed in action and on at least one day of any three-day Federal holiday weekend at all open VA national cemeteries.

How to schedule a burial at Fort Bliss National Cemetery

1. The funeral home or family contacts the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-800-535-1117 (24/7 for active funeral arrangements).
2. Provide the veteran's full name, date of birth, social security number, dates of service, branch, and date of death.
3. Fax or email the DD-214 to the cemetery's interment office for verification.
4. Once eligibility is confirmed (typically 30–60 minutes for complete documentation), the cemetery assigns a date, time, and committal shelter.
5. The funeral home transports the deceased to Fort Bliss National Cemetery at the assigned time. The cemetery handles opening, closing, and perpetual care from that point.

Where Fort Bliss National Cemetery sits in the Texas cemetery system

Fort Bliss National Cemetery is one of the veteran cemeteries operating in Texas. The cemetery is currently accepting new in-ground and columbarium interments. Families should verify status before planning.

For families considering alternatives, the nearest veteran cemeteries appear in our cemetery sidebar. If Fort Bliss National Cemetery is fully reserved, those alternatives are typically the next options.