Robert Charles Burke
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army

On 4 October 1944, then-First Lieutenant Robert Charles Burke was serving with the 118th Field Artillery Battalion, 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, Ninth U.S. Army in the European Theater of Operations.

On that day, 1LT Burke's unit was in action against enemy forces in Germany. 1LT Burke was serving as a forward observer for the 118th Field Artillery Battalion, which was supporting the 117th Infantry Regiment in an assault upon the Siegfried Line. The enemy launched a counterattack throughout an active front that threatened to overrun the friendly unit's positions. After delivering effective artillery fire upon the enemy in his sector, 1LT Burke learned that the forward observer at another observation post had become a casualty and the enemy was succeeding in counterattacking the sector because it had no artillery support. Despite the dangers, 1LT Burke voluntarily left his position and moved through an area that was under extremely heavy enemy fire, including direct fire from a German tank. Arriving at the observation post where his fellow observer had been wounded, he discovered that it was now occupied by the enemy. Moving to the vicinity of the first company he had supported, he selected a new observation post on the 3rd floor of a building. From that location he directed effective artillery fires that decisively defeated an estimated enemy regiment in its attack on a lone infantry company. 1LT Burke's courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals and Awards

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Bronze Star Medal (Merit) with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Purple Heart with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
National Defense Service Medal

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Robert C. Burke (ASN: 0-1180187), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 118th Field Artillery Battalion, 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 4 October, 1944, in Germany. On that date Lieutenant Burke was serving as a forward observer for the 118th Field Artillery Battalion which was supporting the 117th Infantry Regiment in an assault upon the Siegfried Line. The enemy launched a determined counterattack throughout an active front which threatened to overrun positions. After he had delivered effective artillery fire upon the enemy in his sector, Lieutenant Burke learned that the forward observer at another post had become a casualty and the enemy was succeeding in counterattacking the sector which had no effective artillery support. Voluntarily and in the face of seemingly certain death, he left his position and moved over a route which was being subjected to extremely heavy enemy fire, including direct fire from a German tank. Arriving at the observation post at which his fellow observer had been wounded, he discovered that it was now occupied by the enemy. Moving in to the vicinity of the first company he had supported, he selected an observation post on the third floor of a building from which he directed effective artillery fires which turned the hostile attack into a decisive defeat. An estimated regiment of the foe was defeated in its attack on a single infantry company. First Lieutenant Burke's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 30th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, Ninth U.S. Army, General Orders No. 72 (1944)

Death and Burial

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Charles Burke died on 20 March 1988. He is buried at Ochiltree Cemetery in Perryton, Ochiltree County, TX, in Section C, Row 8.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=49396144