[Richard]

Seems as if this fight has been going on for quite awhile - link is to a 2006 web-site for restoring the Cemetery.

http://www.restorestmarys.org/Articl...og%20Park.html

Also tells of PVT Sumner's actions - remember, at that time the MOH was the only medal awarded for valor.

Medal of Honor winner Private James Sumner, Company G, 1st US Cavalry rests in this 'park'. He recieved his Medal of Honor for "gallantry-in-a-charge" on Oct. 20, 1869 in the Chiricahua Mts, Arizona. Awarded on Feb. 14, 1870. Cochise and the Apaches had kidnapped a white settler child in order to draw the 21 soldiers of the 1st Cavalry, Comany G into a box canyon and an ambush. A firefight from hell ensued. The Indians that weren't killed, disappeared into the hills. Two soldiers were killed. All 21 soldiers were awarded the MoH.

FWIW - I also sent the following note to the St Mary's Organizer regarding his post on the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier.

Mr Schleder,

I am a retired US Army Special Forces Officer. I was browsing your web-site and, after reviewing the link on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, felt the necessity to let you know that the e-mail which has floated around on the Internet for a number of years now and which you've posted contains a number of patently false 'facts' about the monument and its guard force. Snopes has done a good job of providing a dissection of the e-mail and either confirming or refuting the claims being made; their summary can be found at:

http://www.snopes.com/military/unknown.asp

I wish you the best of luck with your quest to retain and restore the pioneer cemeteries.

Sincerely,

And so it goes...

Richard