Wood National Cemetery Explained

Wood National Cemetery.jpg
Location:	Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Type:	United States National Cemetery
Graves:	Over 40,000

Wood National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is one of two National Cemeteries in Wisconsin. It encompasses, and as of 2021, it had over 40,000 interments. It is closed to new interments.

History

A part of the Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Association Medical Center, the cemetery was established in 1871 as Soldier Home Cemetery to inter the remains of soldiers who died while under care in the medical center. In 1937, it was renamed Wood Cemetery in honor of General George Wood, a long-time member of the Board of Managers for the center. It became a National Cemetery in 1973 and is currently operated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. It was the only National Cemetery in Wisconsin until 2015, when Northwoods National Cemetery was established near Rhinelander.

Notable monuments

• Civil War Soldiers and Sailors monument, a 60' high granite monument erected in 1903.

Notable interments

• Steward's Mate Herbert Lewis Hardwick- boxer^[1]
• Ordinary Seaman James K. L. Duncan, Medal of Honor recipient for service aboard USS Fort Hindman during the Civil War.^[2]
• Private Milton Matthews, Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Third Battle of Petersburg during the Civil War.^[2]
• Boatswain's Mate Michael McCormick, Medal of Honor recipient for service aboard in the Red River Campaign during the Civil War.^{[3] [2]}
• Corporal Winthrop D. Putnam, Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Battle of Vicksburg during the Civil War.^[2]
• Private Lewis A. Rounds, Medal of Honor recipient for action in the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House during the Civil War.^[2]

External links

• VA.gov cemetery homepage
• Wood National Cemetery, Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI at the Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS)

43.0278°N -87.9806°W

Notes and References

1. News: Toledo . Springs . "JUST WATCH MAH SMOKE" PART 8: Traveling Light . 11 June 2021 . The Sweet Science . 2 May 2011.
2. https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/wood.asp National Cemetery Administration
3. https://www.milwaukee.va.gov/features/Richburg.asp US Department of Veterans Affairs