Burial at Fort Richardson National Cemetery: A family guide

History of Fort Richardson National Cemetery

Fort Richardson National Cemetery is located on the Fort Richardson Military Reservation in Anchorage, Alaska. During World War II, 39 acres of Fort Richardson were set aside for use as a temporary burial site where deceased soldiers—regardless of nationality—could be laid to rest. Under the international program for the return of war dead, most of the soldiers interred at Fort Richardson were returned to their families. There were, however, some soldiers who remained buried at Fort Richardson either because the next of kin could not be found or their families requested that they remain interred in Alaska.

In December 1946, the temporary cemetery at Fort Richardson was made a permanent site. Initially there were two sections in the cemetery. The remains of Allied soldiers were buried within a fenced area referred to as the "Allied Plot." Japanese soldiers who died in battles for the Aleutian Islands were buried outside the fence in an area designated as the "Enemy Plot." In July 1953, the 235 Japanese war dead buried at Fort Richardson were disinterred for proper cremation with appropriate Shinto and Buddhist ceremonies, under the supervision of the Japanese Embassy. In May 1981, a group of Japanese citizens in Anchorage had a new marker made to remember the soldiers who, in death, remain far from home.

Perhaps the most famous resident of Fort Richardson National Cemetery was Kermit Roosevelt, son of the 26th U.S. President, Theodore Roosevelt. Kermit, who had held previous commissions in both the British and U.S. armies, was assigned to the Alaska Defense Command during World War II. He often accompanied pilots on their missions over the Aleutian Islands and played an active role in recruiting the native Alaskan tribes to join a territorial militia. Troubled by alcoholism and depression through much of his life, Major Roosevelt committed suicide at Fort Richardson June 3, 1943. His wife, Belle Roosevelt, advised then Chief of Staff General Dwight D. Eisenhower, that she wished for Kermit to be buried at the site. His father, she conveyed, had always said: "Where a tree falls, there let it lay."

On May 28, 1984, Fort Richardson Post Cemetery became Fort Richardson National Cemetery under the administration of the National Cemetery System. At the time of the transfer, all but 700 of the 2,000 gravesites had been used or reserved.

Notable veterans buried at Fort Richardson National Cemetery

The National Cemetery Administration documents the following veterans of note buried at Fort Richardson 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:
• Master Sergeant James Leroy Bondsteel (Vietnam). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company A, 2d Battalion, 2d Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, for actions in Loc Province, Republic of Vietnam, May 24, 1969. Bondsteel died in 1987 and is buried in Section H, Site 19.
• Other Burials Major Kermit Roosevelt, son of President Theodore Roosevelt, died June 4, 1943 at age 53. He was born October 10, 1889, at Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay, New York. Major Roosevelt served during two wars and under two flags. He first fought with the British in the Middle East, and subsequently served with the American Expeditionary Forces in France. His memoirs of this war are titled War in the Garden of Eden. During World War II, he was again commissioned in the British Army before the United States entered the war, after which he was commissioned as a major in the Army and assigned to Fort Richardson. While in Alaska he flew with Army pilots as an observer when they made bomb runs over Japanese positions in the Aleutians. He also established a territorial militia of Eskimos and Aleuts to form the backbone of an insurgent underground should the Japanese overrun the region. Upon his death, his widow requested his remains be interred at Fort Richardson. He was interred in Section A, Site 22, on June 8, 1943.

Eligibility for burial at Fort Richardson 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: Winter: Open daily from dawn to dusk. Summer: Open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Holidays: Open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed federal holidays. 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. Visiting this national cemetery requires following rules set by the US Air Force/US Army branches. Here are the instructions for visitors to the Fort Richardson National Cemetery located at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER): Check In first: Before you come, visit the JBER Visitor Control Center. They will give you the latest information on rules and requirements. Make an Appointment: The Visitor Center accepts walk-ins, but it is best to make an appointment online. Verify Access: Before you visit the cemetery, make sure the base is open to visitors. Access can change based on US Air Force/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 Air Force/US Army visitor office at 1-907-552-5665 for more information. We hope this information helps you to visit. View the military service Installation Access Guidelines for additional information.

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

Where Fort Richardson National Cemetery sits in the Alaska cemetery system

Fort Richardson National Cemetery is one of the veteran cemeteries operating in Alaska. 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 Richardson National Cemetery is fully reserved, those alternatives are typically the next options.