Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Edmund
Francis
Burke
1907-01-06

–

1978-11-14

Born:

St. Louis

, 

Missouri

Home:

St. Louis

, 

Missouri

Buried: 

St. Louis

, 

Missouri

Cemetery:

Calvary Cemetery and Mausoleum

Edmund Burke grew up and attended Catholic schools in St. Louis, Missouri. He entered the Jesuit Order in August 1925, and was ordained a Catholic priest on June 22, 1938. He was a theology teacher at St. Louis University from 1942 until he was appointed a U.S. Army Chaplain in August 1943, and attended the ChaplainÕs School at Harvard. He then joined the 2d Armored Group at Camp Cooke, California, before being subsequently assigned in November to the 322d Infantry Regiment at Camp Beale. He deployed with the regiment in May 1944 to the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations, where he earned a Silver Star in September 1944. He returned home after the war and was reverted to inactive status on June 24, 1946. He then returned to St. Louis University, where he continued to teach until his retirement in 1975.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Regiment:

    322d Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    81st Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    September 24, 1944
    Headquarters, 81st Infantry Division, General Orders No. 55 (1944)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Chaplain’s Corps) Edmund Francis Burke (ASN: 0-530401), United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as a Chaplain with the 322d Infantry Regiment, 81st Infantry Division, in action Angaur Island, Palau, on 24 September 1944. When the forward elements of his regiment were under enemy mortar, machine gun, and rifle fire, Chaplain Burke repeatedly accompanied litter-bearer teams forward. Completely disregarding his own personal safety, he administered spiritual aid to the wounded and dying and assisted in their evacuation. When in the medical aid station during times when it was under small-arms fire, Chaplain Burke was observed shielding wounded men with his own body. These actions of Chaplain Burke’s were an inspiration to all who observed them and were major factor in maintaining the excellent morale of the forward elements of his regiment