Political Extremist. Born in Bloomington, Illinois, Rockwell was a Navy pilot during World War II. He also served in the Korean War. Influenced by anti-Semitism he founded the American Nazi Party in 1958. Even though the membership was small it had a tremendous effect on American culture. A white supremacist that blamed Jews for the worldwide Communist movement, Rockwell called for their destruction along with the deportation of all blacks. He was discharged from the Navy Reserves for his actions and unsuccessfully ran for governor of Virginia. He was shot dead in 1967 by John Patler, a former member of the American Nazi Party who had been expelled from the party for attempting to add Marxist material in their literature. After Rockwell's family refused to claim the remains or go to any funeral services, the Nazis were allowed to make funeral arrangements they wanted. Since Rockwell was an honorably discharged veteran, he was allowed to be buried at Culpepper National Cemetery. The burial service was set so long as no Nazi insignias or uniforms present. When the 50 mourners disobeyed these conditions, their entrance to the cemetery was blocked in a standoff which lasted about five hours. The day after the aborted funeral service (August 30, 1967), his body was cremated.
Political Extremist. Born in Bloomington, Illinois, Rockwell was a Navy pilot during World War II. He also served in the Korean War. Influenced by anti-Semitism he founded the American Nazi Party in 1958. Even though the membership was small it had a tremendous effect on American culture. A white supremacist that blamed Jews for the worldwide Communist movement, Rockwell called for their destruction along with the deportation of all blacks. He was discharged from the Navy Reserves for his actions and unsuccessfully ran for governor of Virginia. He was shot dead in 1967 by John Patler, a former member of the American Nazi Party who had been expelled from the party for attempting to add Marxist material in their literature. After Rockwell's family refused to claim the remains or go to any funeral services, the Nazis were allowed to make funeral arrangements they wanted. Since Rockwell was an honorably discharged veteran, he was allowed to be buried at Culpepper National Cemetery. The burial service was set so long as no Nazi insignias or uniforms present. When the 50 mourners disobeyed these conditions, their entrance to the cemetery was blocked in a standoff which lasted about five hours. The day after the aborted funeral service (August 30, 1967), his body was cremated.
Gravesite Details
He was Cremated & the Ashes Privately Retained.
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Rockwell memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
