Medal of Honor recipient buried in California dog park

[T.S.]

If this is true, then this is sooo wrong. This soldier belongs in Arlington National Cemetery.

http://www.examiner.com/article/meda...ornia-dog-park

Medal of Honor recipient buried in California dog park

August 1, 2014

On Wednesday, Schleder told Examiner.com that Army Private James Sumner, a veteran who received the Medal of Honor for gallantry in a cavalry charge in 1869, is currently buried in what is now a dog park in the city of Ventura, California.

Sumner, Schleder said, was one of 21 soldiers who received the Medal on Feb. 14, 1870. Sumner, along with other soldiers of Company G, 1st US Cavalry, fought Cochise and his Apaches in a box canyon after the Indians kidnapped a white settler child. Two soldiers were killed in the battle Schleder said was the inspiration for the John Wayne movie "Fort Apache." Sumner survived the battle and lived in the area for about 20 - 30 years. He died of a lung disease in 1912, Schleder added.

In 2010, Marine Sgt. Craig "Gunny" Donor tried to get Sumner's remains moved to Bakersfield National Cemetery, but the city blocked the move. Fox News reported at the time that park commissioners "told Donor they're committed to a long-delayed effort to commemorate the area pioneers and military dead in the park."

We are treating him pretty darn well, except for the poop," parks and recreation commissioner Sharon Troll said at the time. The offensive comment sparked a great deal of anger, Schleder said.

Donor didn't believe the commissioners. Neither does Schleder, who, for ten years, has fought to get the cemetery returned to its original state.

At one point, he said, some tombstones were thrown off a 100-foot cliff, and a rumor was floated that the city ground them into dust.

Even a memorial marker placed by the Grand Army of the Republic listing all the veterans buried there was used to repair a river bank in 1969. At least one veteran, a member of the native California Cavalry, is currently buried under a parking lot, he said.

Schleder, however, isn't ready to give up the fight. Realizing the only solution is a court battle, Schleder says he is putting together a non-profit organization and building a war chest to fight the city.