Fort Bliss National Cemetery - History

History

Fort Bliss itself was not established until the 1840s, but burials were made in the area of the cemetery as early as 1833. The fort was used as a Confederate infantry post during the American Civil War, and later it was changed to a cavalry post for training during World War I, and then became a demobilization camp after the war. In 1914 the cemetery was only 2.2 acres (0.89 ha), and another 2.2 acres were added during the war. In 1939, funds were allocated for improvements and plans were approved to make it into a National Cemetery.

Aside from American soldiers, Fort Bliss National Cemetery was chosen by the Chinese government the place of interment for 55 Chinese air force cadets who died while training at the Fort in 1944. There are also several German prisoners of war, and three Japanese civilians who were transferred from a cemetery in Lordsburg, New Mexico, as well as one German scientist who died while participating in research projects at Fort Bliss during World War II. An officer of the British Royal Air Force from the same war is also buried here.

In 1955, to make way for highway construction, the Fort's namesake Lieutenant Colonel William Wallace Smith Bliss was disinterred from Girard Street Cemetery in New Orleans, Louisiana and brought to Fort Bliss, along with the monument erected in his memory.