During World War II, the U.S. established three internment camps in Texas for alien civilians in the U.S. and Latin America, including one at Kenedy. The U.S. repatriated German, Japanese, and Italian detainees in trade for American prisoners held overseas. The Kenedy camp opened on April 21, 1942, and over the next 30 months housed more than 3,500 internees. Five people who died while confined in the camp are buried here. From 1944 until 1946, the site became a branch P.O.W. camp for Fort Sam Houston. In 1976, the El Cibolo Chapter of the D.A.R. marked the gravesites.