When planning a visit to Santa Fe, New Mexico, one of the first practical questions you might ask is, “What Time Is It In Santa Fe New Mexico?” Knowing the local time is essential for any traveler. But beyond the present moment, Santa Fe is a city deeply rooted in history, a place where time itself seems to hold a different kind of significance. Among its historical landmarks, the Santa Fe National Cemetery stands as a poignant reminder of moments past, honoring the brave individuals who have served the United States. This hallowed ground is the final resting place for heroes from various conflicts, including recipients of the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration for valor.
The Medal of Honor itself represents a timeless commitment to bravery and sacrifice. Established during the Civil War, this award has evolved over the years, but its core purpose remains constant: to recognize extraordinary acts of courage in the face of the enemy. Within the Santa Fe National Cemetery, 390 Medal of Honor recipients are interred, each with a story of exceptional heroism. Let us explore the stories of some of these remarkable individuals and others laid to rest in this historic cemetery.
Medal of Honor Recipients at Santa Fe National Cemetery
The Santa Fe National Cemetery is the honored resting place for several Medal of Honor recipients, each representing different eras of American military history and valor.
Chief Water Tender Edward A. Clary
Chief Water Tender Edward A. Clary’s final resting place, marked by a distinguished headstone at Santa Fe National Cemetery.
Edward A. Clary demonstrated extraordinary heroism while serving in the U.S. Navy. On February 14, 1910, aboard the USS Hopkins, a boiler accident presented a dire emergency. For his actions in the aftermath of this accident, Clary was awarded the Medal of Honor. He served his country with dedication and is now buried in Section O, Site 335 of the cemetery. His life of service concluded in 1939, but his bravery lives on as an example of naval heroism.
Private Edwin L. Elwood
The headstone of Private Edwin L. Elwood, an Indian Wars Medal of Honor recipient, located in the historic Santa Fe National Cemetery.
Private Edwin L. Elwood served with Company G, 8th U.S. Cavalry during the Indian Wars. His Medal of Honor was earned for gallantry in action in the Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona Territory, on October 20, 1869. Elwood’s bravery in the face of conflict in the Old West is commemorated at Santa Fe National Cemetery, Section H, Site 705, where he was buried after his death in 1907. His service represents a significant chapter in the history of the American West.
Specialist Daniel D. Fernandez
The solemn grave of Specialist Daniel D. Fernandez, a Vietnam War hero and Medal of Honor recipient, in Santa Fe National Cemetery.
A native of New Mexico, Specialist Daniel D. Fernandez exemplified ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War. Serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 5th Mechanized Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, Fernandez and his unit were ambushed on February 18, 1966, while attempting to evacuate a wounded comrade. When a grenade landed amongst his fellow soldiers, Fernandez, without hesitation, covered the blast with his own body, saving the lives of those around him. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on April 26, 1967. His selfless act of valor is remembered in Section S, Site 246, where he is buried, a testament to the profound sacrifices made in Vietnam.
Corporal Jacob Guenther
The headstone of Corporal Jacob Guenther, an Indian Wars Medal of Honor recipient, within the grounds of Santa Fe National Cemetery.
Corporal Jacob Guenther, sometimes recorded as Gunther, served with Company E, 8th U.S. Cavalry. His Medal of Honor recognized his actions in the Arizona Territory during the Indian Wars of 1868–1869. His bravery in these conflicts is honored at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Though he died in 1871, his courage during the westward expansion of the United States is eternally remembered at Section A-3, Site 1055.
Corporal Thomas Murphy
The final resting place of Corporal Thomas Murphy, an Irish-born Medal of Honor recipient from the Indian Wars era, at Santa Fe National Cemetery.
Born in Ireland, Corporal Thomas Murphy enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1868. Serving with Company F, 8th U.S. Cavalry, he earned the Medal of Honor for actions on August 25, 1869, at Seneca Mountain, Arizona Territory. Originally buried at Fort Grant, Arizona, after his death in 1881, his remains were reinterred at Santa Fe National Cemetery, Section A-1, Site 740, when Fort Grant closed. His story reflects the international composition of the U.S. Army in the 19th century.
Captain Raymond G. “Jerry” Murphy
Captain Raymond G. “Jerry” Murphy’s grave marker, commemorating his Medal of Honor service during the Korean War, located in Santa Fe National Cemetery.
Captain Raymond G. “Jerry” Murphy served with the U.S. Marine Corps in Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division during the Korean War. His Medal of Honor was awarded for his extraordinary actions on February 3, 1953, in Korea. His leadership and courage in combat are honored at Santa Fe National Cemetery, Section S, Site 282. He passed away in 2007, leaving behind a legacy of Marine Corps valor.
Sergeant Y.B. Rowdy
Sergeant Y.B. Rowdy’s headstone, recognizing his Medal of Honor earned during the Indian Wars, situated in Santa Fe National Cemetery.
Sergeant Y.B. Rowdy, a Yavapai Indian and native of Arizona, served in the U.S. Army in Company A of the Indian Scouts. His Medal of Honor was earned for bravery against hostile Apache Indians at the Salt River, near Cherry Creek, Arizona Territory, on March 7, 1890. Originally buried at Fort Grant, Arizona, after his death in 1893, his remains were reinterred at Santa Fe National Cemetery, Section A, Site 894, in 1907. His service highlights the important role of Native American scouts in the U.S. Army.
Colonel Robert S. Scott
The grave of Colonel Robert S. Scott, a World War II Medal of Honor recipient, marked with a distinguished headstone in Santa Fe National Cemetery.
Colonel Robert S. Scott served with the U.S. Army, 172nd Infantry, 43rd Infantry Division during World War II. His Medal of Honor recognized his actions near Munda Air Strip, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, on July 29, 1943. His leadership and bravery in the Pacific Theater are honored at Santa Fe National Cemetery, Section 9, Site 460. He died in 1999, leaving a legacy of service in World War II.
Private First Class Jose F. Valdez
Private First Class Jose F. Valdez’s grave marker, honoring his posthumous Medal of Honor for service in World War II, within Santa Fe National Cemetery.
Another New Mexico native, Private First Class Jose F. Valdez, served with Company B, 7th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division during World War II. On January 25, 1945, near Rosenkrantz, France, Valdez volunteered to cover his company’s withdrawal. Even wounded, he called artillery fire near his own position to halt the enemy advance. He died from his wounds after dragging himself back to American lines. Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on February 8, 1946, his sacrifice is honored at Santa Fe National Cemetery, Section Q, Site 29. His courageous actions saved his fellow soldiers and represent the spirit of selflessness in combat.
Other Notable Burials
Beyond Medal of Honor recipients, Santa Fe National Cemetery holds the remains of many other individuals who have contributed to the history of New Mexico and the United States.
The cemetery’s initial interments were the remains of 265 U.S. soldiers from the battlefields of Glorieta, Koslouskys, and Fort Marcy, reflecting its early history tied to the Civil War and westward expansion.
Later, Santa Fe National Cemetery became the reburial site for soldiers from isolated frontier outposts. Remains from Fort Apache and Fort Grant in Arizona, Fort Hatch and Fort Wingate in New Mexico, and Fort Duchesne in Utah were brought here, consolidating the memory of the frontier army in one location.
The cemetery also holds the remains of prominent civilians connected to New Mexico’s history. Governor Charles Bent, the first American governor of the Territory of New Mexico, killed in the Taos Revolt of 1847, was reinterred here in 1895. Five Confederate soldiers, casualties of the Civil War in 1862, were also moved from the Masonic Cemetery to Santa Fe National Cemetery, representing the complex history of the region during the Civil War.
In a significant event in 1993, the remains of 28 unidentified Confederate soldiers from a mass grave at the Glorieta Pass battlefield were reinterred in Section K, Site 330C, marked by a monument honoring these soldiers.
Santa Fe National Cemetery is also the final resting place for Major General Patrick J. Hurley, who served as Secretary of War under President Herbert Hoover and as U.S. Ambassador to China during World War II. His distinguished career spanning military service and diplomacy is honored in Section S, Site 149.
The cemetery also honors figures from the arts and literature, such as Oliver LaFarge, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author known for his work “Laughing Boy,” which explored the complexities of Native American identity. His service as a Lt. Col. in the Army Air Force during World War II is commemorated alongside his literary achievements in Section O, Site 300.
Warrant Officer John W. Frink, missing in action from 1972 until 1994, is buried with his father, Harry Wallace Frink, in Section O, Site 371, marking a poignant reunion after decades of uncertainty.
John Edward Allen, a Tuskegee Airman and community leader, is buried in Section 24, Site 560. Allen’s service during WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, and his later community contributions, are a testament to a life dedicated to service and leadership.
Several Navajo Code Talkers, instrumental in World War II, are also buried at Santa Fe National Cemetery, including Ned David Becenti, Carl Csinnjinni, Ray Foghorn, Ross Haskie, Johnson Housewood, Leo Kirk, Ralph Morgan, Sam Morgan, Chester Nez, Sammy Silversmith, Frank Toledo, Preston Toledo, Frank Chee Willetto, Sr., and Daniel Yazzie. These men, many of whom are buried in various sections throughout the cemetery, played a crucial role in American military communications during the Pacific theater. Monuments and markers throughout the cemetery also recognize the collective contributions of the Navajo Code Talkers.
Levi Morris and Thomas Smith, Buffalo Soldiers serving in segregated units after the Civil War, are reinterred in Section 15A, Sites 26 and 25 respectively. Their presence in the cemetery acknowledges the contributions of African American soldiers in the U.S. Army and their role in the history of the American West.
George Curry, a governor of New Mexico and a veteran of the Spanish-American War, is buried in Section O, Site 358. His life reflects the intertwined histories of military service and political leadership in the development of New Mexico.
David Ford, another Buffalo Soldier, reinterred in Section 15A, Site 27, represents the many often-unnamed soldiers whose service is honored at Santa Fe National Cemetery.
Conclusion
Santa Fe National Cemetery serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices and contributions of those who have served the United States. From Medal of Honor recipients to Navajo Code Talkers, Buffalo Soldiers, and key figures in New Mexico history, the cemetery is a place of honor, reflection, and remembrance. As visitors consider “what time it is in Santa Fe New Mexico,” they might also reflect on the timeless values of courage, service, and sacrifice embodied by those interred in this sacred ground. The stories etched in stone here offer a profound connection to the past and a lasting tribute to the individuals who have shaped the nation’s history.
