Barrancas National Cemetery: Difference between revisions

The area has been used as a burial ground since the construction of [[Fort Barrancas]]. In 1838 it was established as a [[United States Navy]] cemetery. During the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], Pensacola was hotly contested, as it was considered to be the best port for access to the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. Numerous soldiers on both sides were interred in the cemetery after falling in combat, or dying in nearby hospitals. After the war, in 1868, Barrancas was officially made a National Cemetery and many other nearby makeshift burial grounds were disinterred and relocated to Barrancas. In each year, 1944, 1950, 1986, and 1990, more area was transferred from NAS Pensacola to expand the facilities for the cemetery.

* [[Medal of Honor]] recipients

** Colonel [[George E. "Bud" Day]], USAF, former [[POW]] and recipient for action in the [[Vietnam War]]

** Commander [[Clyde Lassen|Clyde Everett Lassen]], USN, recipient for action in the Vietnam War

** Major [[Stephen W. Pless]], USMC, recipient for action in the Vietnam War

** Staff Sergeant [[Clifford Chester Sims]], USA, recipient for action in the Vietnam War

** Vice admiral [[Dick H. Guinn]], USN, [[World War II]] veteran and [[Navy Cross]] recipient. Former [[Chief of Naval Personnel]]

** Lieutenant General [[Robert P. Keller]], USMC, Marine Aviator during World War II, Korea and Vietnam

** General [[Joe W. Kelly]], USAF, former commander of [[Military Air Transport Service]] from 1960 to 1964

** Major General [[William L. McKittrick]], USMC, Marine Aviator during World War II

** Colonel [[Arthur D. Simons]], USA, Special Forces commander and leader of the [[Operation Ivory Coast|Sơn Tây raid]]

** [[Benny Spellman]] (1931–2011), US Army Korean War veteran and R&B singer

** Admiral [[Maurice F. Weisner]], USN, former commander of [[United States Pacific Command|US Pacific Command]] from 1976 to 1979

** [[Daniel Phineas Woodbury]] (1812–1864), Civil War Union Major General

** Ga-Ah, one of the many wives of the [[Apache]] Indian [[Geronimo]], who died of [[Bright's disease]] while being held captive