Burial at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery: A family guide

History of Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery

Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery, located just north of Leavenworth, KS, is located near the center of the historic Fort Leavenworth Military Reservation. The garrison of Fort Leavenworth is one of the oldest continuously-active military post located west of the Mississippi River and is noted for its significant role in the development of the American West.

After Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821, trade routes were opened in the western territories of North America. Conflicts arose when the trade routes crossed lands that belonged to various Native American tribes. Traders soon appealed to the U.S. government for protection and aid in keeping the routes open. In response, the government established a number of military posts west of the Mississippi River—including Fort Leavenworth.

In 1827, the War Department ordered Colonel Henry Leavenworth to follow the Missouri River until he reached the mouth of the Little Platte River and establish a permanent military cantonment on the east bank there. After exploring the area, Col. Leavenworth determined that the west (ultimately Kansas) side of the river was the best site and construction of the cantonment began shortly afterwards. Due to its strategic location on both the Oregon and Santa Fe trails, Fort Leavenworth was a key crossroads for westbound settlers. The flat land near the river contained corrals and supply yards and was well suited for traders and wagon trains on their long westbound journeys.

As early as 1834, cavalry regiments from Fort Leavenworth were ordered to help quell Native American uprisings. When the Mexican War broke out, Fort Leavenworth became an outfitting post for troops headed to the Southwest. Later, it outfitted prospectors bound for California to "strike it rich" with gold. Fort Leavenworth served as Army headquarters for the West and was the site of the formal surrender of New Mexico to the United States in 1846.

Notable veterans buried at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery

The National Cemetery Administration documents the following veterans of note buried at Fort Leavenworth 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:
• Captain Harry Bell (Philippine Insurrection). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, 36th Infantry, for actions near Porac, Luzon, Philippine Islands, October 17, 1899. Bell died in 1938 and is buried in Section Officer A, Site 167.
• Captain Thomas W. Custer (Civil War). He received the Medal of Honor twice while serving in the U.S. Army, Company B, 6th Michigan Cavalry; first for capturing the flag at Namozine Church, Virginia, on May 3, 1865, and second for actions at Sailor's Creek, Virginia, April 1865. Custer died in 1876 and is buried in Section A, Site 1488.
• Colonel Roger H. C. Donlon (Vietnam War). Donlon was born in Saugerties, New York, in 1934. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1953–1954 before being admitted to the US Military Academy at West Point. He left the Academy but subsequently gained his commission through Officers Candidate School. Donlon completed Special Forces training and was awarded the green beret before deploying to Vietnam. There, in July 1964, as commander of Special Forces Detachment A-726, he earned the Medal of Honor for gallantry in driving off the attack of a reinforced Viet Cong battalion despite numerous wounds sustained over the course of a five-hour battle. His was the first Medal of Honor awarded for action in Vietnam, and the first awarded to a member of the Special Forces. He is buried in Section T, Site 653.
• Lieutenant Commander William E. Hall (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Navy for actions in the Coral Sea (Pacific), May 7–8, 1942. Hall died in 1996 and is buried in Section I, Site 286.
• Corporal John Kile (Indian Wars). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company M, 5th U.S. Cavalry, for actions near the Republican River, Kansas, July 8, 1869. His citation was awarded under the name of Kyle. Kile died in 1870 and is buried in Section H, Site 3341.
• Private Fitz Lee (Spanish-American War). Fitz Lee was born in June 1866, in Dinwiddie County, VA. In 1889 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served with Troop M, 10th Cavalry. At the beginning of his third enlistment, the United States declared war on Spain and Private Lee was among those in Tayabacoa in 1898. On June 30, Lee and four others volunteered to rescue wounded men stranded on the Cuban beach. For his bravery Lee was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1899, while hospitalized in Fort Bliss, Texas. Discharged in July, he went to Leavenworth, KS, where a supportive community of black veterans lived. They cared for Lee until his death on September 14, 1899. Lee was buried with full military honors in Section G, Site 3183.

Eligibility for burial at Fort Leavenworth 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 dawn to dusk. Office Hours: The office is located at Leavenworth National Cemetery. Open Monday thru Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed federal holidays except Memorial Day. Visiting this national cemetery requires following rules set by the US Army. Here are the instructions for visitors to the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery located at Fort Leavenworth US Army Garrison. Check In first: Before you come, visit the US Army Visitor Control Center (VCC). They will give you the latest information on rules and requirements. Apply for a Virtual Pass: Those who wish to visit can apply for a virtual pass at Fort Leavenworth base visitor pre-registration system. The Visitor Center accepts walk-ins, Monday – Friday between the hours of 7 am to 4 pm and is located at: 1 Sherman Ave, Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027. Outside of these business hours, please go to the Gate at Grant Ave. The Grant Gate can issue temporary visitor passes when the VCC is closed. Please expect a wait for processing. Verify Access: Before you visit the cemetery, make sure the base is open to visitors. Access can change based on the US Army security rules. It is good to check. Get Help: If you have questions or want to know if the base is open, you can call the US Army visitor office at 1-913-684-3600 for more information. We hope this information helps you to visit. Please see the general information section for the process of scheduling access to the US Army base for a committal service. View the military service Installation Access Guidelines for additional information.

How to schedule a burial at Fort Leavenworth 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 Leavenworth National Cemetery at the assigned time. The cemetery handles opening, closing, and perpetual care from that point.

Where Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery sits in the Kansas cemetery system

Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery is one of the veteran cemeteries operating in Kansas. The cemetery is currently operating with limited burial availability. Families should verify status before planning.

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