thedrifter
05-22-08, 09:05 AM
Barracks named for heroes
By JULIA LeDOUX
For the Stafford County Sun
Published: May 22, 2008
Two Marines who received the Medal of Honor for their selfless actions during the Vietnam War were honored Friday, as the newest enlisted barracks at The Basic School were dedicated in their memory.
Anderson & Burke Hall was built in honor of the first African American to receive the Medal of Honor, Pfc. James Anderson and the youngest Marine to receive the Medal of Honor, Pfc. Robert C. Burke
Family members and those who fought alongside the men nearly four decades ago dabbed their eyes as their Medal of Honor citations were read during the ceremony at Camp Barrett.
“He was just a young man who cared, he was a loving person,” said Anderson’s sister, Mary.
“It’s just such a great honor. To have him remembered 40 years after his death, they’re still remembering him and showing respect to him,” said Marilyn Burke Barnett.
Anderson was born in 1947 n Los Angeles, Calif., and left college to in the Marine Corps on Feb. 17, 1966. He arrived in Vietnam in December of that year and served as a rifleman with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Division in Quang Tri Province.
According to his Medal of Honor citation, Company F was advancing in the dense jungle northwest of Cam Lo in an effort to extract a heavily besieged reconnaissance patrol on Feb. 28, 1967. Anderson’s platoon was the lead element and had advanced about 200 meters when it came under intense enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire.
Anderson found himself tightly bunched together with the other members of the platoon about 20 meters from the enemy position. Several of the Marines had been wounded in the firefight when an enemy grenade landed in their midst and rolled alongside Anderson’s head.
“Unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his own safety, he reached out, grasped the grenade, pulled it into his chest and curled around it as it went off. Although several Marines received shrapnel from the grenade, his body absorbed the major force of the explosion.”
Charles Chritton was Anderson’s platoon commander in Vietnam. The men arrived in Vietnam at about the same time and were assigned to the same platoon.
“Pfc. Anderson died so two other Marines could live,” he said. “May God Bless Pfc. Anderson.”
Burke was born in 1949 in Illinois and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1967. He arrived in Vietnam in February of 1968, where he served with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 27th Marines, 1st Marine Division as a machine gunner. He was killed on May 17, 1968 during Operation Allen Brook in Le Nam, Go Nai Island, Southern Quang Nam Province.
According to Burke’s Medal of Honor Citation, Company I was approaching a dry river bed with a heavily wooded tree line when it came under intense mortar, rocket propelled grenades, automatic weapons and small arms fire which stopped its advance and left several Marines wounded.
Burke seized his machine gun and launched a series of one-man assaults against the fortified encampment, which allowed units to advance and the wounded to be evacuated. He then moved from one location to another, quelling hostile fire until his weapon malfunctioned.
“Obtaining a casualty’s rifle and hand grenades, he advanced further in to the midst of the enemy,” the citation continues. “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 tree line until he fell mortally wounded.”
Dale Camp was one of the Marines whose life was saved due to Burke’s actions. He said he thinks of May 17, 1968 and Burke’s sacrifice every day.
“The things that I dream about going back and doing are the things that Pfc. Burke did,” Camp said. “He made a difference. Our debt to them is not to waste the lives that they gave to us and the freedom that men and women like them have given to this country. When I am feeling down or lazy, I am going to remember what Robert did for me, and live life to its fullest.”
Brig. Gen. James H. Laster, commanding general of Marine Corps Training and Education Command, identified the need for a massive redevelopment of the facilities aboard Camp Barrett in 2003, when he was serving as commanding officer of The Basic School. At that time, the enlisted Marines of Instructor Battalion lived in two separate barracks.
“Their names and their legacy will be permanently woven into the fabric of all Marines who walk through the doors of these barracks,” he said of Anderson and Burke. “Their names will inspire us to serve selflessly and to strive for excellence. Their names will serve as a reminder to all Marines that we must perform our daily duties with vigor, with devotion and with courage.”
Construction started on the new 59,000-square-foot barracks in the spring of 2006. The barracks have a total of 130 rooms, each with more than 330 square feet of living space. All of the rooms have individual climate control, Internet and cable access and individual bathroom facilities. Each floor has a separate laundry facility and lounge, a well as a study room.
“You set the standard, you veterans, and these two Marines set the standard for us, the current Marines that are engaged around the world, and let it not be said that we allowed our reputation as the fighting U.S. Marines to suffer on our watch,” said Lt. Col. James D. Davis, commanding officer of Instructor Battalion, The Basic School.
Julia LeDoux is a staff writer at Media General’s Potomac News & Manassas Journal Messenger.
Ellie
By JULIA LeDOUX
For the Stafford County Sun
Published: May 22, 2008
Two Marines who received the Medal of Honor for their selfless actions during the Vietnam War were honored Friday, as the newest enlisted barracks at The Basic School were dedicated in their memory.
Anderson & Burke Hall was built in honor of the first African American to receive the Medal of Honor, Pfc. James Anderson and the youngest Marine to receive the Medal of Honor, Pfc. Robert C. Burke
Family members and those who fought alongside the men nearly four decades ago dabbed their eyes as their Medal of Honor citations were read during the ceremony at Camp Barrett.
“He was just a young man who cared, he was a loving person,” said Anderson’s sister, Mary.
“It’s just such a great honor. To have him remembered 40 years after his death, they’re still remembering him and showing respect to him,” said Marilyn Burke Barnett.
Anderson was born in 1947 n Los Angeles, Calif., and left college to in the Marine Corps on Feb. 17, 1966. He arrived in Vietnam in December of that year and served as a rifleman with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Division in Quang Tri Province.
According to his Medal of Honor citation, Company F was advancing in the dense jungle northwest of Cam Lo in an effort to extract a heavily besieged reconnaissance patrol on Feb. 28, 1967. Anderson’s platoon was the lead element and had advanced about 200 meters when it came under intense enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire.
Anderson found himself tightly bunched together with the other members of the platoon about 20 meters from the enemy position. Several of the Marines had been wounded in the firefight when an enemy grenade landed in their midst and rolled alongside Anderson’s head.
“Unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his own safety, he reached out, grasped the grenade, pulled it into his chest and curled around it as it went off. Although several Marines received shrapnel from the grenade, his body absorbed the major force of the explosion.”
Charles Chritton was Anderson’s platoon commander in Vietnam. The men arrived in Vietnam at about the same time and were assigned to the same platoon.
“Pfc. Anderson died so two other Marines could live,” he said. “May God Bless Pfc. Anderson.”
Burke was born in 1949 in Illinois and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1967. He arrived in Vietnam in February of 1968, where he served with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 27th Marines, 1st Marine Division as a machine gunner. He was killed on May 17, 1968 during Operation Allen Brook in Le Nam, Go Nai Island, Southern Quang Nam Province.
According to Burke’s Medal of Honor Citation, Company I was approaching a dry river bed with a heavily wooded tree line when it came under intense mortar, rocket propelled grenades, automatic weapons and small arms fire which stopped its advance and left several Marines wounded.
Burke seized his machine gun and launched a series of one-man assaults against the fortified encampment, which allowed units to advance and the wounded to be evacuated. He then moved from one location to another, quelling hostile fire until his weapon malfunctioned.
“Obtaining a casualty’s rifle and hand grenades, he advanced further in to the midst of the enemy,” the citation continues. “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 tree line until he fell mortally wounded.”
Dale Camp was one of the Marines whose life was saved due to Burke’s actions. He said he thinks of May 17, 1968 and Burke’s sacrifice every day.
“The things that I dream about going back and doing are the things that Pfc. Burke did,” Camp said. “He made a difference. Our debt to them is not to waste the lives that they gave to us and the freedom that men and women like them have given to this country. When I am feeling down or lazy, I am going to remember what Robert did for me, and live life to its fullest.”
Brig. Gen. James H. Laster, commanding general of Marine Corps Training and Education Command, identified the need for a massive redevelopment of the facilities aboard Camp Barrett in 2003, when he was serving as commanding officer of The Basic School. At that time, the enlisted Marines of Instructor Battalion lived in two separate barracks.
“Their names and their legacy will be permanently woven into the fabric of all Marines who walk through the doors of these barracks,” he said of Anderson and Burke. “Their names will inspire us to serve selflessly and to strive for excellence. Their names will serve as a reminder to all Marines that we must perform our daily duties with vigor, with devotion and with courage.”
Construction started on the new 59,000-square-foot barracks in the spring of 2006. The barracks have a total of 130 rooms, each with more than 330 square feet of living space. All of the rooms have individual climate control, Internet and cable access and individual bathroom facilities. Each floor has a separate laundry facility and lounge, a well as a study room.
“You set the standard, you veterans, and these two Marines set the standard for us, the current Marines that are engaged around the world, and let it not be said that we allowed our reputation as the fighting U.S. Marines to suffer on our watch,” said Lt. Col. James D. Davis, commanding officer of Instructor Battalion, The Basic School.
Julia LeDoux is a staff writer at Media General’s Potomac News & Manassas Journal Messenger.
Ellie