Eagle Point National Cemetery
Encyclopedia
Eagle Point National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery
located just east of Eagle Point
, Jackson County
of the U.S. state
of Oregon
. It is about 14 miles (22.5 km) northeast of Medford
.
It encompasses 43.4 acres (175,633.7 m²), and at the end of 2005, had 12,049 interments.
. Administration was transferred to the National Cemetery system in 1973, when it was named White City National Cemetery. The name was changed to Eagle Point National Cemetery on March 19, 1985.
United States National Cemetery
"United States National Cemetery" is a designation for 146 nationally important cemeteries in the United States. A National Cemetery is generally a military cemetery containing the graves of U.S. military personnel, veterans and their spouses but not exclusively so...
located just east of Eagle Point
Eagle Point, Oregon
Eagle Point is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. The population was 8,469 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-2000 Census data:...
, Jackson County
Jackson County, Oregon
-National protected areas:* Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument* Crater Lake National Park * Klamath National Forest * Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest * Umpqua National Forest -Demographics:...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. It is about 14 miles (22.5 km) northeast of Medford
Medford, Oregon
Medford is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 US Census, the city had a total population of 74,907 and a metropolitan area population of 207,010, making the Medford MSA the 4th largest metro area in Oregon...
.
It encompasses 43.4 acres (175,633.7 m²), and at the end of 2005, had 12,049 interments.
History
Cypress Hills National Cemetery opened in 1952 to service the nearby veterans facility in White City, OregonWhite City, Oregon
White City is an unincorporated community in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined White City as a census-designated place . The census definition of the area may not precisely correspond to local understanding of the area with...
. Administration was transferred to the National Cemetery system in 1973, when it was named White City National Cemetery. The name was changed to Eagle Point National Cemetery on March 19, 1985.
Notable monuments
- A memorial dedicated to "All Unknown Veterans" was erected at the cemetery in 1980, it was donated by by the Disabled American Veterans organization.
- A carillon was donated by the American Veterans as part of their international living-memorial program, which began shortly after World War II.
- A memorial dedicated to all 1st Marine Divisions of all Wars was donated by the 1st Marine Division Association.
Notable interments
- Lieutenant George Ray TweedGeorge Ray TweedGeorge Ray Tweed was a radioman in the United States Navy at the outbreak of World War II.A sixteen year veteran of the Navy, Tweed was the chief radioman on Guam when the Japanese invaded the island on December 10, 1941...
, of the United States NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. He was the only survivor of a unit that was captured on GuamGuamGuam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
during World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He hid on the island for two and a half years, evading capture and supplying information to the US forces in the Pacific. His ordeal inspired him to write the book Robinson Crusoe, USN in 1945, and later, in 1962, inspired, Richard GoldstoneRichard GoldstoneRichard Joseph Goldstone is a South African former judge. After working for 17 years as a commercial lawyer, he was appointed by the South African government to serve on the Transvaal Supreme Court from 1980 to 1989 and the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of South Africa from 1990 to 1994...
and John Monks Jr. to write, direct, and produce the movie No Man Is an IslandNo Man Is an Island (film)No Man Is an Island is a 1962 war film about the exploits of George Ray Tweed, a United States Navy radioman who avoided capture and execution by the Japanese during their years-long World War II occupation of Guam. It stars Jeffrey Hunter as Tweed...
, starring Jeffrey HunterJeffrey HunterJeffrey Hunter was an American film and television actor. His most famous roles are as Jesus in the film King of Kings, as Martin Pawley in The Searchers, and as Capt...
as Lt. Tweed.
See also
- United States Department of Veterans AffairsUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsThe United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
- United States National CemeteryUnited States National Cemetery"United States National Cemetery" is a designation for 146 nationally important cemeteries in the United States. A National Cemetery is generally a military cemetery containing the graves of U.S. military personnel, veterans and their spouses but not exclusively so...