Source: National Cemetery Administration · cem.va.gov · scraped May 2026
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.
Major construction projects were undertaken between November 1933 and June 1934 while the cemetery was still considered an annex. A lodge, restroom facilities, rostrum, and stone wall were built in part by civilian workers of the New Deal's Works Progress Administration. The buildings were in the Spanish Revival style. A utility building of the same style was added in 1938 as was a new flagpole with a Texas pink granite base. A stone wall and entry gate along the north cemetery boundary were built in summer 1941.
Similar to the consolidation of POW remains, the burials at one-time Texas frontier posts such as Fort Ringgold, Fort Clark, and Fort McIntosh were reinterred in Fort Sam Houston when those facilities closed in 1947.
Improvements and expansions continued throughout the twentieth century. Fort Sam Houston is one of 78 VA national cemeteries with burial sections that use upright headstones and flat grave markers. In 1941 the cemetery consisted of 25 developed acres; currently it contains roughly 338 acres of which 200 acres have been developed. Unlike some other inter-world war national cemeteries, Fort Sam Houston has the potential to remain open for decades.
Monuments and Memorials Seven standard memorial monuments made of Texas pink granite are located along the Memorial Path that meanders around Section 9 in the east half of the cemetery. A memorial carillon was installed in 1982.
Notable interments
Veterans, public figures, and citizens of note buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, listed by section and site as recorded by the National Cemetery Administration.
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.
Platoon Sergeant William George Harrell (World War II).
He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, 1st Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division, for actions at Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, March 3, 1945. Harrell died in 1964 and is buried in Section W, Site 3247.
Second Lieutenant Lloyd H.
Hughes (World War II). He received the Medal of Honor posthumously for service in the U.S. Army Air Corps, 564th Bomber Squadron, 389th Bomber Group, 9th Air Force, in recognition of his heroic decision to complete his mission regardless of the personal consequences during the Ploesti Raid, in Rumania, August 1, 1943. Hughes was killed when his plane crashed and he is buried in Section U, Site 53.
Fireman First Class Peter Johnson (Spanish-American War).
He received the Medal of Honor while serving in the U.S. Navy for actions after an explosion of a boiler on board the U.S.S. Vixen on May 28, 1898. Johnson died in 1943 and is buried in Section F, Site 442.
Private First Class Milton A.
Lee (Vietnam). He received the Medal of Honor posthumously for service in the U.S. Army, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, in recognition of actions near Phu Bai, Thua Thien Province, Republic of Vietnam, April 26, 1968. Lee was killed that day and is buried in Section X, Site 2475.
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.
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Burial in a VA national cemetery is open to all members of the armed forces who have met a minimum active duty service requirement and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
Directions
Cemetery is located in the northeast section of San Antonio. From International Airport, take NE Loop 410. Travel East to Harry Wurzbach Road and then south approximately four miles to the cemetery on your left.
Floral and grounds policy
The flower policy allows for fresh-cut and artificial flowers on graves year-round. No other items are allowed. All fresh cut and artificial flowers must be in plastic vases. No other containers are allowed. Plastic vases are provided by the cemetery and are in receptacles throughout the cemetery and should be returned to the receptacles when no longer needed.
To maintain the dignity of the national cemetery, no items will be attached or glued to a headstone, marker or niche cover.
Weapons policy
VA regulations 38 CFR 1.218 prohibit the carrying of firearms (either openly or concealed), explosives or other dangerous or deadly weapons while on VA property, except for official purposes, such as military funeral honors.
Possession of firearms on any property under the charge and control of VA is prohibited. Offenders may be subject to a fine, removal from the premises, or arrest.
Education and visiting programs
More than half of VA's national cemeteries originated with the Civil War and many are closed to some burials. Other sites were established to serve World War veterans and they continue to expand. Historic themes related with NCA's cemeteries and soldiers' lots vary, but visitors should understand "Why is it here?" NCA began by installing interpretive signs, or waysides, at more than 100 properties to observe the Civil War Sesquicentennial (2011–2015). Please follow the links below to see the interpretive signs for Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.
A National Cemetery System Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery The Legacy of the Houston Mutineers Visit the Veterans Legacy Program and NCA History Program for additional information. Thank you for your interest.
Nearest cemeteries
The three closest veteran cemeteries to Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery (by straight-line distance):
- San Antonio National Cemetery — San Antonio, TX (4 mi · unknown)
- Kerrville National Cemetery — Kerrville, TX (55 mi · closed)
- Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen — Killeen, TX (114 mi · open)
Nearby veteran-friendly funeral homes
The following funeral homes within a 50-mile radius of Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery have demonstrated a commitment to serving veterans through specialized services, VA benefits coordination, or dedicated honors details.
Sutton-Sutton & Woodard's Mortuary, Inc. is a premier funeral home located at 320 South W.W White Road in San Antonio, TX. The property features well-appointed spaces including chapel, cremation memorials, and companion plots. Professional offerings include funeral services, memorial services, and cremation services, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $2,595. For families preferring a traditional approach, basic burial services begin at $2,895, while direct cremation is available from $1,595. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Many faiths and customs and Catholic.
Dellcrest Funeral Home is a premier funeral home located at 2023 South Ww White Road in San Antonio, TX. With deep roots in the community, they provide a peaceful and accommodating environment to honor the memory of loved ones. Direct cremation services are provided starting at $3,875.
Mission Park Funeral Chapels Cherry Ridge is a premier funeral home located at 3401 Cherry Ridge Drive in San Antonio, TX. With deep roots in the community, they provide a peaceful and accommodating environment to honor the memory of loved ones. Direct cremation services are provided starting at $2,880.
Camero Funeral Home at City Base is a premier funeral home located at 3706 South Ww White Road in San Antonio, TX. The property features well-appointed spaces including chapel, cemetery, and crematory. Professional offerings include funeral services, cremation, and burial, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. General services start at $1,995. For families preferring a traditional approach, basic burial services begin at $2,895, while direct cremation is available from $1,595. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Catholic.
Castillo Mission Funeral Home is a premier funeral home located at 520 North Gen. McMullen in San Antonio, TX. The property features well-appointed spaces including on-site crematory, large capacity chapels, and ample parking. Professional offerings include cremation, funeral services, and tributes, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. Direct cremation services are provided starting at $2,450.
Brookehill Funeral Home is a premier funeral home located at 711 Southeast Military Drive in San Antonio, TX. With deep roots in the community, they provide a peaceful and accommodating environment to honor the memory of loved ones. Direct cremation services are provided starting at $2,880.
Palm Heights Mortuary is a premier funeral home located at 3711 South Zarzamora Street in San Antonio, TX. With deep roots in the community, they provide a peaceful and accommodating environment to honor the memory of loved ones. Direct cremation services are provided starting at $3,140.
Sunset North Funeral Home is a premier funeral home located at 910 North Loop 1604 East in San Antonio, TX. The property features well-appointed spaces including chapel, living room-style foyer, and hospitality room. Professional offerings include cremation, burial, and traditional funeral, handled with the utmost care by their licensed directors. For families preferring a traditional approach, basic burial services begin at $3,595, while direct cremation is available from $2,420. The staff is experienced in coordinating with various faith traditions, specifically Asian Traditions, Buddhist, Catholic, Christian (Protestant), Hispanic Traditions, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and Black Funeral Traditions.