William Ervin Burke

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class
K CO, 3RD BN, 7TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV
United States Navy
01 September 1941 - 22 March 1966
Roseburg, Oregon
Panel 06E Line 037

1ST MARDIV 7TH MARINES
Fleet Marine Force Corpsman

Purple Heart, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

The database page for William Ervin Burke

22 Apr 2008

Bill, it's been over forty years since we met and were in Field Medical Service School at Camp Del Mar. When we got to Vietnam, you went to the field and I went to 3rd Med Bn. The next contact was when the guy from Graves Registration asked me if I knew Bill Burke was there in a bag. We were barely there a month when they shot you in the neck. I still think of you often and wish we could have continued our friendship after the service. This was not to be. You were from Roseburg and I was from Yreka. I pass by Burke Road often. It is an exit off 101 south of Ukiah. When I see this, I immediately flash to you and the emotions flare. Rest in peace, buddy. I hope we can hook up when I leave this place.

Mike Hennig
ex HM1/USN
3rd Med Bn
3rd Mar Div
seapig1@peoplepc.com

A Note from The Virtual Wall

The 3rd Bn, 7th Marines' After Action report for Operation TEXAS contains the following entry:

Six men from 3/7 died in the fight described above:

  • H&S Company:
    • HM3 William E. Burke, Roseburg, OR (with Kilo 3/7)
    • HM3 Bienvenido G. Dona, Republic of the Philippines (with Lima 3/7)

  • K Company:
  • L Company:
    • Sgt Michael J. Delgado, Chicago, IL
    • Pfc Marion L. Lee, Houston, TX
Fleet Marine Force Corpsman

"You guys are the Marine's doctors -
There's none better in the business
than a Navy Corpsman ..."
-- Lieutenant General "Chesty" Puller --

Visit John Dennison's
Medics on the Wall
memorial which honors the
Army Medics and Navy Corpsmen who died in Vietnam.



The point-of-contact for this memorial is
a brother serviceman,
Michael Hennig
seapig1@peoplepc.com



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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 22 Apr 2008
Last updated 04/26/2008