Thirteen Medal of Honor winners recipients lie forgotten in a small San Antonio cemetery.
The Congressional Medal of Honor is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their lives above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States.
In all, 3,465 Medals of Honor have been awarded to 3,446 men.
Given what is necessary to earn a Congressional Medal of Honor, many must be awarded posthumously.
Heroes rest in this unremembered place. Inscriptions on their headstones speak more eloquently than anything I can write.
Private David B. Barkeley [WWI], U.S. Army, Company A, 356th Infantry, 89th Division.
Pouilly, France, Nov. 9, 1918
Private Frederick Deetline [Indian Wars], U.S. Army, Company D, 7th U.S. Cavalry. Little
Big Horn, Montana, June 25, 1876
Private John Harrington [Indian Wars], U.S. Army, Company H, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Wichita
River, Texas, Sept. 12, 1874
Sergeant Henry Falcott [Indian Wars], U.S. Army, Company L, 8th U.S. Cavalry, Arizona,
August 1868
Corporal Henry A. McMasters [Indian Wars], U.S. Army, Company A, 4th U.S. Cavalry,
Red River, Texas, Sept. 29, 1872
Private James J. Nash [Indian Wars], U.S. Army, Company F, 10th U.S. Infantry, Santiago, Cuba,
July 1, 1898
Private Solon D. Neal [Indian Wars], U.S. Army, Company L, 6th U.S. Cavalry, Wichita River,
Texas, July 12, 1870
Private Simon Suhler, enlisted under the alias Charles Gardner [Indian Wars], U.S. Army,
Company B, 8th U.S. Cavalry, Arizona, August-October 1868
First Lieutenant Lewis Warrington [Indian Wars], U.S. Army, 4th U.S. Cavalry, Muchague
Valley, Texas, Dec. 8, 1874
Private William H. Barnes [Civil War], U.S. Army, Company C, 38th U.S. Colored Troops,
Chapins Farm, Virginia, Sept. 29, 1864
Private George W. Smith [Indian Wars], U.S. Army, Company M, 6th U.S. Cavalry, Wichita
River, Texas, Sept. 12, 1874
Corporal John J. Given [Indian Wars], U.S. Army, Company K, 6th U.S. Cavalry, Witchita
River, Texas, July 12, 1870
Sergeant William DeArmond [Indian Wars], U.S. Army, Company I, 5th U.S. Infantry, Upper
Washita, Texas, Sept. 9-11, 1874
Walking through dry grass in this resting place of giants does not make an American proud. We owe our heroes more. Perhaps we can water the grass. Perhaps your congressperson should know.
Two hundred eighty-one Buffalo Soldiers and several Indian scouts are buried here as well.
Honor men who defended you. Visit San Antonio National Cemetery,
517 Paso Hondo Street, east of downtown San Antonio.
There is space for a few more veterans to be buried here. Apply to the Veterans Administration.
J.D. Long of Alamo City Pundit provided the photograph.
Learn more about Marcus Wilder, his books, and his travel at his website.
Comments
Thanks for this article and for bringing this and these brave souls to our attention.
Thanks for uncovering this story. But PLEASE, PLEASE.. these men are Medal of Honor RECIPIENTS.. there are NO Medal of Honor "winners".
Steve,
I apologize for the winner/recipient error. I plead ignorance. I have no military background. Still, an educated person would have known that. Thank you for the correction. My heart is in the right place.
Marcus
Right Truth,
Thank you for your comment. We owe these men more than we know.
Marcus
Your heart is in the right place and all GI's thank you for your support in revealing this sad state of affairs so it can be corrected..
W
I grew up with Marcus and his late brother Johnny, who was a silver star recipient. Both of them were well known and repected inthe community, of course there father, Dr. John Wilder,was a longtime and very well repected in the Rio Grande Valley. Marcus has made his own mark and in his own way to where he is now. I respect him for what he has accomplished in his life but more as a true friend. Many of his classmates, including me, could have attempted his accomplishments but most would have fallen short and given up, but he just seems to always succeed in anything he does and anything he wants to add to his accomplishments. He is a true winner. When he writes a book, which he has many, you feel like you are beside him as he describes what he is talking about and they are all wonderful and interesting and also easy and so interesting. I urge anyone who would like a short but very eventful tour of some of the countries he has written about to purchase his books from his website.
Thank you, Wm. A few letters to congresspersons may help.
even though the writing is faded, the stone appears to be in very good shape.
If we knew where these markers are, we could organize a stone masons and funeral homes to check their condition and conduct repairs.
Few of stones are broken, Dialla. The dry grass, infrequently mowed, and general air of neglect bothered me. The cemetery is on Paso Hondo in the large collection of cemeteries east of downtown, West of New Braunfels street.
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