Veterans Memorial - Coachella Cemetery - Indio, CA
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member NW_history_buff
N 33° 40.144 W 116° 13.070
11S E 572511 N 3725737
This multi-war memorial is located within Coachella Cemetery just south of Indio, CA.
Waymark Code: WMJC2P
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 10/27/2013
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member dejf75
Views: 3

Located in the heart of Coachella Cemetery is a veterans memorial containing three walls. Two walls make up the 'Wall of Honor' with one of the two walls commemorating individuals with ties to Riverside County that were awarded the Medal of Honor. The third wall at the head of the monument is titled 'Ultimate Sacrifice' and memorializes those individuals also with ties to Riverside County involved in various world conflicts who gave their lives in protecting our freedoms in the U.S. This wall contains a list of names, the conflict they fought in, and the year of their ultimate sacrifice. On either side of the list of names are quick facts and figures of all the major wars the United States has been involved in. At the bottom of the list of names reads 'Freedom Is Not Free - God Bless America'.

The following list of names of those individuals who gave their lives:

William A. Huntington, SGT US Army - France - 10/21/1918
Gerald B. Singleton, SSGT US Army - Vietnam - 7/22/1970
Robert M. Gutierrez, PFCUS ARMY - South Pacific - 10/2/1945
Adam S. Najar, PFC USMC - Vietnam - 4/30/1968
Terry J. Allen, PFC US ARMY - Vietnam - 5/21/1967
Armondo H. Nava, PVT US ARMY - Philippines - 4/21/1945
Ming Sun, PFC US Army - Irag - 1/9/2007
Simon L. Carrillo, PVT US Army - Philippines - 6/6/1943
Sergio Gonzalez (unknown)
Joe Carrillo, PFC US Army - Normandy - 1944
Herman R. Granados, PVT US Army - Philippines - 12/8/1941
Joshua M. Palmer, 1st LT USMC - Iraq - 4/20/2004
Edward A. Escobar, SPC 4 US Army - Vietnam - 5/21/1967
Robert P. Levin, SPC 4 US Army - Vietnam - 2/27/1969
Jesus A. Gonzalez, LCPL USMC - Iraq - 4/12/2003
Gregory M. Gonzalez, PVT US Army - Germany - 4/1/1945
David W. Kramer, PFC US Army - Saudi Arabia - 2/27/1991
Morris A. Carlson, 1st LT US Army - Philippines - 4/26/1945
George H. Parker (unknown)
Clifford L. Ryan, Master Sgt. US Army - Korea - 11-1-1950
Gregorio A. Vera, PFC US Army - Normandy - 7/27/1944
Thomas E. McKee, CPL USMC - Vietnam - 7/6/1967
Eddie P. Austin, CPL USMC - Vietnam Era - 4/21/1967
Isidro J. Romero, PFC US Army - South Pacific - 5/12/1945
Arthur P. Roberson, SPC 4 US Army - Vietnam - 6/19/1971
Verland G. Gilbertson, SPC 5 US Army - Vietnam - 10/17/1967
Courtney A. Blackburn, Airman USAF - Minot AFB, ND - 11/29/1985
Reynaldo S. Fernandez, CPL USMC - Vietnam - 5/19/1967
Peter R. Avila, PFC US Army - Korea - 10/3/1951
Peter A. Avila (unknown)
Pedro C. Perez, US Army - 8/1944
Dennis D. Reed, PFC US Army - Vietnam - 3/11/1968
Leveret R. Prosky, SGT US Army - Vietnam - 9/21/1968
George L. Lopez, PFC US Army - Vietnam - 9/10/1970
Carl R. Smead, PFC US Army - Vietnam - 3/24/1966
Owen B. Coffman, 2nd LT US Army Air Forces - 4/21/1944
Otto P. Meyer, III, PFC 4 US Army - Vietnam - 5/21/1967
Joe N. Camargo, PFC 160 INF 40 INF Div. - Philippines - 1/10/1945
Louis A. Gutierrez, Jr., SGT US Air Force 9/31/1975 - McConnell AFB Kansas
Suresh N. A. Krause, C W-2 US Army - Afghanistan - 8/16/2012
James E. Dunkin, Jr., PFC US Army - Vietnam - 11/2/1968
Joseph L. Stone, SPC 4 US Army, Vietnam - 2/3/1971
Robert L. Dalton, PFC US Army - Vietnam - 12/2/1969
Gerald W. Bayles, SGT US Army - Vietnam - 6/1/1966
Nicholas L. Schroeder, CPL US Army - Vietnam - 8/7/1968
Lloyd B. Webb, PFC US Army - South Pacific - 7/5/1944
Francisco P. Delgado, SPC 4 US Army - Cambodia - 5/7/1970
William A. Lingle, Jr., Chief Warrant Officer US Army - Korea - 11/13/1961
John P. Steward (unknown)
Dennis P. Poelstra, SPC 4 US Army - Vietnam - 12/14/1969
Lynn D. Shugart, PFC US Army - Vietnam - 5/21/1969
Walter J. Peters, PFC US Army - Vietnam - 1/4/1968
David L. Hicks, SPC 4 US Army - Vietnam - 9/21/1970
Robert C. Lira, PFC USMC - Vietnam - 4/5/1969
Cayetano R. Porras, CPL US Army - Black Island - 6/26/1944
Gerald L Saxton, LCPL USMC - Vietnam - 1/22/1968
Homer H. Hinkle, 1st LT US Army Air Corps - Tokyo, Japan - 5/26/1945
Antonio Reyes (unknown)
Andreas Zamores, PVT US Army - Normandy - 10/15/1944

Type of Memorial: Multi-War Memorial

Wars mentioned (Multi-war only):
WWI WWII Korea Vietnam Global War on Terror


In Honor Of: Ultimate Sacrifice

Marker Text:
Ultimate Sacrifice Freedom is Not Free God Bless America


Date of dedication: November 11, 2007 (Veterans Day)

Who Put it Here?: East Valley Memorials Foundation & Coachella Cemetery

Description of Memorial:
This memorial, located in the heart of Coachella Cemetery, is a nice tribute to all who have served from Riverside County. In addition to the walls honoring and memorializing those who served, there is a Purple Heart monument a short distance away from the walls. I have found a few other veteran memorials in the desert nearby and it is apparent that the communities in this area know the importance of freedom in this country and have installed multiple memorials in recent years to note this.


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Visited Logs must contain, at least, a picture of the monument and your GPSr. Preferably YOU at the monument with your GPSr, but we understand that some people are camera-shy.
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