Burial at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery: A family guide

History of Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery

Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery adjoining the Fort Sam Houston Military Post in San Antonio, Texas, was one of seven national cemeteries established during the expansion of the National Cemetery System between the World Wars, specifically in 1934–1939. This first major expansion since the Civil War was due to an increased veteran population, combined with the rapidly depleting burial space at existing national cemeteries. Cemetery locations were chosen based on where veterans lived. The other interwar cemeteries are Baltimore, Maryland; Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Snelling, Minnesota; Fort Rosecrans and Golden Gate, California; and Long Island, New York, national cemeteries.

San Antonio has held strategic military importance throughout its history. The first Spanish military camp was established there in 1718. In the early 1800s American settlers moved into the region in large numbers and tension with the new Mexican government led to the Texas Revolution (1835–1836). In this conflict, the Texas Army led by Sam Houston gained de facto independence from Mexico. The Alamo, a San Antonio mission, was the location of a pivotal battle in the revolution. The United States formally annexed the territory in 1846 and the Army established a quartermaster depot in San Antonio that supported American forces during the Mexican-American War (1846–1848). A permanent military post was established there in 1875 and it was named Fort Sam Houston in 1890. Prominent visitors to the post included Chief Geronimo, who was held there in 1886 before his exile to Florida, and Theodore Roosevelt who stopped with his men to receive provisions before leaving for Cuba in 1898. The fort also supplied General John J. Pershing's punitive expedition against "Pancho" Villa (1916–1917).

The fort at San Antonio utilized multiple burial grounds throughout its history. The first was the City Cemetery until 1867 when a small tract of donated land within the city became San Antonio National Cemetery—both were miles away from the post. The fort outgrew this national cemetery and, in 1924, the War Department set aside a portion of Fort Sam Houston for a supplementary post cemetery; the first interment occurred here in 1926. San Antonio National Cemetery reached capacity by the early 1930s and on August 6, 1931, the War Department transferred 60 acres, including the post cemetery, for use as a national cemetery annex. It retained the San Antonio National Cemetery Annex name until 1937 when it was renamed Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.

Fort Sam Houston was the largest Army post in the United States in 1940 and during World War II it served as a major internment center for prisoners of war. As POW camps across the United States closed after the war, the Army consolidated graves from camp cemeteries and permanently interred remains at post or federal cemeteries. Axis prisoners were buried in the cemetery's southeast corner, the graves initially separated from those of veterans and eligible family members by a fence and plantings. However, ongoing grave-site expansion has merged POW and U.S. service burials.

Notable veterans buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery

The National Cemetery Administration documents the following veterans of note buried at Fort Sam Houston 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:
• Staff Sergeant Lucian Adams (World War II). Lucian Adams, native of Texas, enlisted in the U.S. Army on February 25, 1943, during World War II. He served in Company I, 30th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division until September 7, 1945. On October 28, 1944, near Saint Die, France, Staff Sergeant Adams was tasked with reopening supply lines. His lone assault on German forces led to the destruction of three enemy machineguns and reopened the supply lines to his isolated battalion. Adams received the Medal of Honor on March 29, 1945. Adams died March 31, 2003, and is buried in Site AI, Site 555.
• Master Sergeant Roy Perez Benavidez (Vietnam). Roy Perez Benavidez, native of Texas, enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1955. Benavidez served with the Detachment B-56, 5th Special Forces Group, Airborne, 1st Special Forces during the Vietnam War. On May 2, 1968, Master Sergeant Benavidez volunteered to assist in the fourth effort to save a twelve-man reconnaissance team stranded west of Loc Ninh. Benavidez jumped from a hovering helicopter and despite his own wounds Benavidez recovered the wounded soldiers and classified documents. Benavides received the Medal of Honor on February 24, 1981. He died November 29, 1998, and is buried in Section AI, Site 553.
• Colonel Cecil Hamilton Bolton (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Army, Company E, 413th and 104th Infantry, for actions at the Mark River, Holland, November 2, 1944. Bolton died in 1965 and is buried in Section PC, Site 22-J.
• Staff Sergeant William J. Bordelon (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor posthumously for service in the U.S. Marine Corps, 1st Battalion, 18th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, in recognition of actions at Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, November 20, 1943. Bordelon is buried in Section AI, Site 558.
• General Richard Edward Cavazos (Korea, Vietnam, Grenada). Cavazos (1929–2017) was born in Kingsville, TX, to Mexican-American parents. His father was a World War I veteran who worked on a cattle ranch and saved enough money to send his son to college, a rare accomplishment for that time. Cavazos attended Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University) and graduated through the school's ROTC program. In Korea, Cavazos served with the legendary 65th Infantry Regiment, also known as the Borinqueneers. He earned the Silver Star and the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism at Outpost Harry in June 1953. During the Vietnam War, Cavazos was awarded a second Distinguished Service Cross. In 1976, he became the first Mexican-American to reach the rank of brigadier general. In all, Cavazos served for 33 years. In 2022, Fort Hood was renamed to Fort Cavazos, in recognition of Cavazos' pioneering service. On January 3, 2025, his Korean War Distinguished Service Cross was upgraded to the Medal of Honor. He rests in Section PG, Site 51.
• Sergeant Santiago J. Erevia (Vietnam). Santiago J. Erevia was born in Texas in 1946. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1968 and served for two years as a radio-telephone operator with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam. On May 21, 1969, he neutralized four enemy bunkers, saving lives of wounded U.S. soldiers and rescuing his company from a precarious position. He joined the Texas National Guard after his army tour. Although he received the Distinguished Service Cross, among other citations, he had been recommended for the Medal of Honor for bravery in 1969. In March 2014, President Barack Obama awarded Erevia and twenty-three other veterans the Medal of Honor — all men who had been overlooked due to cultural prejudice. Erevia died March 22, 2016, and is buried in Section AD, Site 486.

Eligibility for burial at Fort Sam Houston 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 through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed federal holidays except Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

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

Where Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery sits in the Texas cemetery system

Fort Sam Houston 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 Sam Houston National Cemetery is fully reserved, those alternatives are typically the next options.