Established 1943 Country United States Founded 1943 Burials Don Boven | Size 770.4 acres (311.8 ha) Phone +1 269-731-4164 | |
Type United States National Cemetery Address 15501 Dickman Rd, Augusta, MI 49012, United States Hours Closed now Tuesday8AM–7:30PMWednesday8AM–7:30PMThursday8AM–7:30PMFriday8AM–7:30PMSaturdayClosedSundayClosedMonday8AM–7:30PM Owner United States Department of Veterans Affairs Similar Fort Custer Recreation Area, Leila Arboretum, Air Zoo, Gil Car Museum, Western Michigan University | ||
Rifle salute at fort custer national cemetery
Fort Custer National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located just outside the village of Augusta in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. It encompasses 770.4 acres (311.8 ha), and as of 2014 had 30,000 interments.
Contents
- Rifle salute at fort custer national cemetery
- Avenue of flags fort custer national cemetery
- History
- Noteworthy monuments
- Notable burials
- References
Avenue of flags fort custer national cemetery
History
Named for General George Armstrong Custer, the original Camp Custer was built in 1917 as part of the military mobilization during World War I. After the war, it also served as a demobilization camp. The cemetery itself was not created until 1943. During World War II Fort Custer was expanded to serve as a training ground and as a place to hold German prisoners of war.
Of the German POWs held during World War II, 26 died and were buried in the cemetery. Sixteen of which were killed when a truck carrying them from a work detail collided with a train near Blissfield, Michigan.
It was not until 1981 that Fort Custer cemetery officially became Fort Custer National Cemetery, receiving a large plot of land from the Fort Custer Training Center for expansion. In 1997 another expansion was made, with the addition of 60 acres (24 ha).