Burial at Fort Missoula Post Cemetery: A family guide

History of Fort Missoula Post Cemetery

The U.S. Army established Fort Missoula in 1877 to guard the Bitterroot Valley in the Montana Territory after years of petitioning from local citizenry for military presence. The post cemetery was established the following year. The cemetery occupies 1.24 acres and is the oldest active burial ground in Missoula, with interments from all U.S conflicts from the Civil War to Vietnam. The fort saw significant activity from 1933 through World War II. From 1933–1942, Fort Missoula served as the Rocky Mountain Regional Civilian Conservation Corps' administrative center, the largest CCC headquarters in the country. During World War II, it was the Immigration and Naturalization Service's largest internment camp for non-military foreign and native persons—primarily Italian nationals and Japanese Americans.

The first recorded burial at the post cemetery was Pvt. William Gericke who died September 26, 1878. Two Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Wars (1865–1891) are interred here: Corporal Harry Garland and Private Michael Himmelsback. A large number of graves are African Americans who served in the 24th and 25th Infantry regiments, which were garrisoned there from the late 1800s into the early 1900s. Thirty-six remains were reinterred in Fort Missoula following the closure of Fort Ellis, near Bozeman, in 1886. Several women, wives of officers and senior sergeants, are buried in the cemetery, as are more than 50 children who lived at the fort. The cemetery is closed to burials other than those of Veterans or eligible dependents in existing gravesites. Fort Missoula was formally decommissioned in 2001 and the Army transferred the post cemetery to NCA on October 16, 2019. Fort Missoula Post Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 as a contributing feature of a larger Army post district.

Notable veterans buried at Fort Missoula Post Cemetery

The National Cemetery Administration documents the following veterans of note buried at Fort Missoula Post 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 Harry Garland (Indian Wars) was born in 1844 in Boston, MA. He fought with the 2nd U.S. Cavalry and was part of post-Little Bighorn operations against Native Americans in the region. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry in action in two separate engagements. The first was against Lakota Chief Lame Deer at Little Muddy Creek, MT, on May 7, 1877. The second was against the Nez Perce at Camas Meadows, ID, on August 20, 1877. In this event, Garland was shot through the left hip and was left unable to stand. He never fully recovered from his wounds and received a warrant promotion to Hospital Steward at Fort Ellis, assuming this duty in December 1878. He died May 21, 1883 and was buried at Fort Ellis. When the hospital closed in 1886 his remains were moved to Fort Missoula (Section B, Site 13).
• Private Michael Himmelsback (Indian Wars) was born in 1849 in Allegheny County, PA. He fought in Co. C, 2nd U.S. Cavalry. Himmelsback received the Medal of Honor for gallantry in action at Little Blue, NE, on May 17, 1870. In this engagement, Himmelsback was part of a five-man detachment sent to recover stray horses. The party was attacked by a large group of Native Americans and all their horses were killed. The party held off their attackers and withdrew by foot, rescuing a party of settlers — two women and two children — in the process. Himmelsback died of kidney disease at Fort Ellis Hospital, Montana, on January 5, 1881. When the hospital closed in 1886 his remains were moved to Fort Missoula (Section B, Site 15).
• Other Burials U.S. Army Major General Frank William Milburn served in World War I, World War II and the Korean War. He was a decorated hero, receiving numerous valor awards. He later served as the Athletic Director at Montana State University.

Eligibility for burial at Fort Missoula Post 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: Contact Fort Logan National Cemetery at 303-761-0117 for information.

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

Where Fort Missoula Post Cemetery sits in the Montana cemetery system

Fort Missoula Post Cemetery is one of the veteran cemeteries operating in Montana. The cemetery is currently closed to new in-ground burials but may accept cremated remains in some cases. Families should verify status before planning.

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