Robert C. Burke

Infobox Military Person
name= Robert C. Burke
born= birth date|1949|11|7
died= death date and age|1968|5|17|1949|11|7
placeofbirth= Monticello, Illinois
placeofdeath= KIA in Vietnam
placeofburial=


caption= Robert C. Burke, Medal of Honor recipient
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch= US Marine Corps
serviceyears= 1967-1968
rank= Private First Class
commands=
unit= 3rd Battalion 27th Marines
battles= Vietnam War
awards= Medal of Honor Purple Heart
laterwork=

Robert C. Burke (November 7, 1949–May 17, 1968) was a United States Marine who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam in May 1968.

Biography

Burke was born on November 7, 1949, in Monticello, Illinois. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in Chicago, Illinois, March 17, 1967, and was discharged to enlist in the regular Marine Corps on May 16, 1967."Private Robert C. Burke", "Who's Who in Marine Corps History".]

Upon completion of recruit training with the 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, on July 20, 1967, he was transferred to the Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California. He completed individual combat training with Company Q, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment, in August 1967, and was promoted to private first class on September 1, 1967.From September 1967 until January 1968, he was a student with the Motor Transport School, Student Company, Schools Battalion. This was followed by duty as a motor vehicle mechanic with Headquarters and Service Company, 5th Military Police Battalion, 5th Marine Division, Camp Pendleton."Private Robert C. Burke", "Who's Who in Marine Corps History".]

In February 1968, he was transferred to the Republic of Vietnam where he served with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 27th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was killed in action on May 17, 1968, while on Operation Allen Brook with Company I, in the hamlet of Le Nam, Go Nai Island, Southern Quang Nam Province."Private Robert C. Burke", "Who's Who in Marine Corps History".]

Burke is buried in Monticello Cemetery, in Monticello, Illinois."Robert C. Burke", HomeofHeroes.com.]

Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ROBERT C. BURKE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

:For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty for service as a Machine Gunner with Company I, Third Battalion, Twenty Seventh Marines, First Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam on May 17, 1968. While on Operation ALLEN BROOK, Company I was approaching a dry river bed with a heavily wooded treeline that bordered the hamlet of Le Nam (1), when they suddenly came under intense mortar, rocket propelled grenades, automatic weapons and small arms fire from a large, well concealed enemy force which halted the company's advance and wounded several Marines. Realizing that key points of resistance had to be eliminated to allow the units to advance and casualties to be evacuated, Private First Class Burke, without hesitation, seized his machine gun and launched a series of one man assaults against the fortified emplacement. As he aggressively maneuvered to the edge of the steep river bank, he delivered accurate suppressive fire upon several enemy bunkers, which enabled his comrades to advance and move the wounded Marines to positions of relative safety. As he continued his combative actions, he located an opposing automatic weapons emplacement and poured intense fire into the position, killing three North Vietnamese soldiers as they attempted to flee. Private First Class Burke then fearlessly moved from one position to another, quelling the hostile fire until his weapon malfunctioned. Obtaining a casualty's rifle and hand grenades, he advanced further into the midst of the enemy. Observing that a fellow Marine had cleared his malfunctioning machine gun he grasped his weapon and moved into a dangerously exposed area and saturated the hostile treeline until he fell mortally wounded. Private First Class Burke's gallant actions upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country."Pvt Robert C. Burke", "Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor".]

/S/ RICHARD M. NIXON

Awards and honors

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*

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*"Private Robert C. Burke", "Who's Who in Marine Corps History".]

In memory

The name Robert Charles Burke is inscribed on the Vietnam War Memorial ("The Wall") on Panel 61E, Line 024."Robert Charles Burke", "The Virtual Wall".]

Robert C. Burke Memorial Park in Monticello, Illinois, his hometown, is named in his honor."Robert C. Burke Memorial Park", City of Monticello.]

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War

Notes

References

:Marine Corps
*findagrave|7030373 Retrieved on 2007-10-27
*cite web
accessdate=2007-10-21
url=http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Burke_RC.htm
title=Private Robert C. Burke
work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History
publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps

*cite web
accessdate=
url=http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/000003c919889c0385255fa2005d08f4?OpenDocument
archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070102153213/www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/000003c919889c0385255fa2005d08f4?OpenDocument
archivedate=2007-01-02
title=Medal of Honor — PFC Robert C. Burke (Medal of Honor citation)
work=Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor
publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps

*cite web
accessdate=2007-10-21
url=http://www.homeofheroes.com/gravesites/states/pages_af/burke_robertCharles.html
title=Gravesite of Robert Charles Burke
publisher=HomeofHeroes.com

*cite web
accessdate=2007-10-21
url=http://www.virtualwall.org/db/BurkeRC01a.htm
title=Robert Charles Burke
work=The Virtual Wall

*cite web
accessdate=2007-10-21
url=http://www.cityofmonticello.net/cms/publish/burke.shtml
title=Robert C. Burke Memorial Park
publisher=City of Monticello, Illinois

Persondata
NAME= Burke, Robert C.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH= November 7, 1949
PLACE OF BIRTH= Monticello, Illinois
DATE OF DEATH= May 17, 1968
PLACE OF DEATH= KIA in Vietnam