Walter Laverte Burke
Private First Class
D CO, 1ST BN, 1ST MARINES, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
New York, New York
June 30, 1950 to November 22, 1968
WALTER L BURKE is on the Wall at Panel W38, Line 33

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Combat Action Ribbon
 

 
16 August 2002

REMEMBERED

by his comrades in arms from
VVA Chapter 421

Lester Modelowitz
lmodelowitz@si.rr.com


 
28 Aug 2002

My name is Edward Behnke and it was Walter Burke who was trying to save me after I was shot through the neck and shoulder. I will never forget Walter Burke.

I know that Walter still has a brother and possibly his father is still alive. I would like to sometime meet with them, and would like to hear from family and friends.

Edward Behnke
eddieandsandie@myway.com
Roscommon, Michigan


 

Notes from The Virtual Wall

A fellow Marine, Don Hill, recalls PFC Walter Burke's death:
"Near the beginning of Operation Meade River, on November 22, 1968, Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines crossed the river -- and lost four Marines KIA, med-evaced seven emergency WIA's, and kept a bunch of wounded hanging around and waiting for a more promising helicopter to get them out.

"I'd like to remember Walter Laverte Burke, a young Marine who gave his life while saving the life of Ed Behnke. After Ed had been seriously wounded in the shoulder, neck, and jaw, PFC Burke took him quite aways to a position of relative safety. As Ed scurried over/was pushed over that last elevated rice paddy dike, Burke was shot and killed approximately one foot from safety."

Four Marines from Delta 1/1 were killed in action on 22 Nov 1968:

  • SSgt Kenneth A. Baker, New Bedford, MA (Silver Star)
  • Cpl Andrew A. Ruiz, Clovis, CA
  • Pfc Walter L. Burke, New York, NY
  • Pfc Louis A. Taylor, Atlantic City, NJ

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