- Barrancas National Cemetery
infobox nrhp
name = Barrancas National Cemetery
caption =
locmapin = Florida
map_caption =
lat_degrees = 30
lat_minutes = 21
lat_seconds = 8.5
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 87
long_minutes = 17
long_seconds = 14
long_direction = W
location = Pensacola,Florida , US
area =
built =
architect =
architecture =
added =February 12 ,1998
refnum = 98000083
mpsub = Civil War Era National Cemeteries MPS
governing_body = FederalBarrancas National Cemetery is a
United States National Cemetery located atNaval Air Station Pensacola , in the city ofPensacola, Florida . It encompasses 94.9 acres, and as of the end of 2005, had 32,643 interments.History
The area has been used as a burial ground since the construction of
Fort Barrancas . In 1838 it was established as aUnited States Navy cemetery. During the Civil War, Pensacola was hotly contested, as it was considered to be the best port for access to theGulf 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.Notable monuments
Barrancas National Cemetery has a monument honoring those soldiers who died from
yellow fever . It was erected in 1884 by the Marine Guard of the Pensacola Navy Yard.Notable interments
*Commander Clyde Everett Lassen,
Medal of Honor recipient for action in theVietnam War .
*MajorStephen W. Pless , Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Vietnam War.
*Staff SergeantClifford Chester Sims , Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Vietnam War.
*ColonelArthur D. Simons , Special Forces legend and leader of the Son Tay raid
*AdmiralMaurice F. Weisner , former commander of US Pacific Command
*"Ga-Ah", one of the many wives of theApache IndianGeronimo , who died ofBright's disease while being held captive.
*17 casualties of the 2nd Seminole War.
*10 British aviators killed during training at the Naval Air Station duringWorld War II .See also
*
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
*United States National Cemetery External links
* [http://www.cem.va.gov/ National Cemetery Administration]
* [http://www.cem.va.gov/CEM/cems/nchp/barrancas.asp Barrancas National Cemetery]
* [http://www.geocities.com/pcolacemetery/page4.html Photos of Barrancas National Cemetery]
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