Indian Agency Cemetery

In 1958 while walking Guard Duty behind the Little Red church "A historical Church" I came upon the Grave of Geronimo. The plot was Surrounded by a white Picket fence and well maintained. The GraveStone was a Large Marker. About 4 ft High and 21/2 ft across. At the top in BOLD Letters was the name GERONIMO and below the full story how the Man was taken off the train bringing Him and his survivors to Florida. Explaining the Discrace of the US Calvery under Gen. Who ordered his Capture under a white flag of truce to discuss another peace treaty. He was taken from his family of 2 wives and 5 Children. Never to see them again. Later he married and had 5 more children. He became a trusty after attending Bill Cody wild west show. He was a custodian in the little Red Church Then later on became a Deacon of that church. His childhood buddy also jumped off the train to be with him. His little Tombstone was about 1 foot high by 8 inches across with just his name and what he did. As I remember both stones were withen the white picket fence . The stone of his friend was less than 2 inches from the large Geronimo Gravestone on its left side, Right as I Faced both stones. It said his name and how he elected to stay with his childhood friend. None of the other Graves were as well maintained. Weeds were everywhere. 28 years later my Father came to visit me from New York. He wanted to see the Grave I had made such a fuss about years ago. We drove out from Duncan 30 miles or so from my house to find Gate 4 was gone. We drove on the base and I tried to remember where the little RED CHURCH was. 28 years before. We wound up on the fireing Range and noticed a convoy coming down to a crossroad in front of us. A lead jeep stopped and a young LT. proceeded to read me the riot act about being on the firing Range. It was a Sunday and I was told when I first entered the Grounds that the Range was closed. He knew Nothing of the Little Red Church or the Apache Cemetery. Coming down the east road was another convoy this time led by a Colonel. The Col told the LT. to proceed on his assignment he said He remembered the Little red church and apache Graveyard behind but said some fool tore down the church that was still used fro the 1800s until the 1960s. He said the graveyard was encased by a Chain Link fence No opening. He said the place was a mess and the Church with all the History and objects withen was gone! We drove in the direction he said and there in the middle of Nowhere was the chain link fence. My family and I walked around the fence and found an opening on the backside. It was about 5 feet high and the fence pulled wide. We entered and walked looking for the large Grave Marker. I was shocked to find about ten round rocks or Cannon Balls in a pyramid. With a brass Nametag In the middle "Geronimo" His boyhood friends Marker was also gone as was the White fence and not even a sign of the wood. The grass which had been maintained was all but gone except for a few weeds. You could see the ground was sunk and disturbed. I was willing to bet this piece of land had not been a Guardpost for many years opened to Robbers, Grave Robbers. Years later I heard his Family was looking to Bury him near his birthplace. But after all the legal Mumbo Jumbo the dug his grave and found Nothing. I'll bet the records if not distroyed are still at FT. Sill. You will see who gave the order to Destroy the Church and cordon off the Apache Graveyard. I'll bet the Geronimo Gravestone is at some thiefs home. Geronimo had Ten Children That is many, Many anscestors I hope they pursue this. F.J. Dioguardi