JOHN E. BURKE, LCDR, USN

From USNA Virtual Memorial Hall
John Burke '28

Date of birth: January 24, 1905

Date of death: November 15, 1942

Age: 37

Lucky Bag

From the 1928 Lucky Bag:

1928 Burke LB.jpg

JOHN EDWARD BURKE

Bismarck, North Dakota

"Soc"

ALL the essential qualities of real manhood are embodied in "Soc." Combined with an irresistible spirit of good cheer, is a soul of deep understanding and a heart as big as a barrel. The hand of Destiny writes success for "Soc," for no obstacles are too big for him to surmount. A fighting spirit is unconquerable.

His weakness is twofold; namely, women and exaggeration. His famous story dwells on the climatic changes in North Dakota. "Say Smitty, in the year 1873, a terrible blizzard struck Bismarck on the Fourth of July, and all the farmers who were in town to celebrate the occasion were buried in forty feet of snow!"

"Soc" is an experienced judge of females, and quite a connoisseur on the subject, but I do believe he would be hurt if he ever made a favorable remark when judging the other's girl.

Like most of us he has met many obstacles in his Academic path but "that old time fight" has pulled him through so far in Life and will probably continue to do so.

An athlete of no mean ability, he prefers to succumb to the radiator and its warming charms. "Sic" 'em "Soc."

Football (4); Basketball (4), Navy Numerals (4); Class Basketball (3), Class Numerals (3).

1928 Burke LB.jpg

JOHN EDWARD BURKE

Bismarck, North Dakota

"Soc"

ALL the essential qualities of real manhood are embodied in "Soc." Combined with an irresistible spirit of good cheer, is a soul of deep understanding and a heart as big as a barrel. The hand of Destiny writes success for "Soc," for no obstacles are too big for him to surmount. A fighting spirit is unconquerable.

His weakness is twofold; namely, women and exaggeration. His famous story dwells on the climatic changes in North Dakota. "Say Smitty, in the year 1873, a terrible blizzard struck Bismarck on the Fourth of July, and all the farmers who were in town to celebrate the occasion were buried in forty feet of snow!"

"Soc" is an experienced judge of females, and quite a connoisseur on the subject, but I do believe he would be hurt if he ever made a favorable remark when judging the other's girl.

Like most of us he has met many obstacles in his Academic path but "that old time fight" has pulled him through so far in Life and will probably continue to do so.

An athlete of no mean ability, he prefers to succumb to the radiator and its warming charms. "Sic" 'em "Soc."

Football (4); Basketball (4), Navy Numerals (4); Class Basketball (3), Class Numerals (3).

Loss

John was lost on November 15, 1942 when USS South Dakota (BB 57) was damaged by Japanese surface forces at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

After graduating from the Naval Academy, John took the six-week summer aviation course consisting of observation, groundwork and actual flying.

He married Miriam Katherine Beach on July 5, 1929, in King County, Washington.

John’s father Edward T. was a judge of the district court, mother Florence and brothers Charles and Robert.

From NavSource:

John Edward Burke was born on 24 January 1905 in Bismarck, N.D. He was commissioned ensign upon graduation from the Naval Academy in 1928. Burke saw service afloat before serving as aircraft gunnery observer with the Battle Force Torpedo School. Service in USS Wasp (CV 7) was followed by periods of training duty. On 02 February 1942 Lt. Comdr. Burke reported to USS South Dakota (BB 57) at the New York Shipbuilding Corp. in Camden, N.J., for duty as air defense officer. The battleship was commissioned on 20 March and, following shakedown training, headed for the Pacific. Just after midnight on 15 November 1942, South Dakota engaged a Japanese bombardment group under Admiral Kondo off Guadalcanal. South Dakota took 42 hits which killed 30 crewmen and caused considerable damage. Lt. Comdr. Burke was one of those killed. Lt. Comdr. Burke was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.

His wife was listed as next of kin.

He is buried at sea and his memorial is in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Philippines.

Namesake

USS Burke (DE 215) was named for John; the ship was sponsored by his widow, Miriam.

Photographs

Related Articles

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Navy Directories & Officer Registers

The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.

The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.

The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.

Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together… or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.

October 1928
Ensign, USS New Mexico

January 1929
Ensign, USS New Mexico

Others at this command:
April 1929
Ensign, USS New Mexico

Others at this command:
July 1929
Ensign, USS New Mexico

October 1929
Ensign, USS New Mexico

Others at this command:
January 1930
Ensign, USS New Mexico

Others at this command:
April 1930
Ensign, USS New Mexico

Others at this command:
October 1930
Ensign, USS New Mexico


Others at or embarked at this command:
LCDR Charles Cecil '16 (Battleship Division 4)
LTjg Gerald Dyson '27 (Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 4B)
January 1931
Ensign, USS New Mexico


Others at or embarked at this command:
LTjg Gerald Dyson '27 (Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 3B)
April 1931
Ensign, USS New Mexico


Others at or embarked at this command:
LTjg Gerald Dyson '27 (Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 3B)
July 1931
Ensign, USS New Mexico
October 1931
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS New Mexico
January 1932
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Blakeley
April 1932
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Blakeley
October 1932
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Fox

Others at this command:
January 1933
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Fox

Others at this command:
April 1933
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Fox

Others at this command:
July 1933
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Fox

Others at this command:
October 1933
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Fox

Others at this command:
April 1934
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Melville
July 1934
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Melville
October 1934
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Melville
January 1935
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Melville
April 1935
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Melville
October 1935
Lieutenant (j.g.), Battle Force Torpedo School, USS Rigel

Others at or embarked at USS Rigel:
January 1936
Lieutenant (j.g.), Battle Force Torpedo School, USS Rigel

Others at or embarked at USS Rigel:
April 1936
Lieutenant (j.g.), Battle Force Torpedo School, USS Rigel

Others at or embarked at USS Rigel:
July 1936
Lieutenant (j.g.), Battle Force Torpedo School, USS Rigel
January 1937
Lieutenant (j.g.), Battle Force Torpedo School, USS Rigel
April 1937
Lieutenant (j.g.), Battle Force Torpedo School, USS Rigel
September 1937
Lieutenant, for assignment, 16th Naval District

January 1938
Lieutenant, executive officer, USS Bulmer

Others at this command:
July 1938
Lieutenant, executive officer, USS Bulmer
January 1939
Lieutenant, executive officer, USS Bulmer

Others at this command:
October 1939
Lieutenant, executive officer, USS Bulmer

Others at this command:
June 1940
Lieutenant, USS Wasp


Others at or embarked at this command:
LT John Eldridge, Jr. '27 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 71)
LTjg James Fitzpatrick, Jr. '35 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 7)
LTjg Mark Eslick, Jr. '35 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 72)
LTjg Dewitt Harrell '35 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 71)
LTjg Joseph Evans '36 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 72)
LTjg Webster Johnson '36 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 7)
November 1940
Lieutenant, USS Wasp


Others at or embarked at this command:
LT John Eldridge, Jr. '27 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 71)
LTjg James Fitzpatrick, Jr. '35 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 71)
LTjg Mark Eslick, Jr. '35 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 72)
LTjg Dewitt Harrell '35 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 71)
LTjg Webster Johnson '36 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 72)
LTjg Donald Patterson '37 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 71)
April 1941
Lieutenant, USS Wasp


Others at or embarked at this command:
LT John Eldridge, Jr. '27 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 71)
LT Baylies Clark '30 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 71)
LTjg James Fitzpatrick, Jr. '35 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 72)
LTjg Mark Eslick, Jr. '35 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 72)
LTjg Dewitt Harrell '35 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 71)
LTjg Webster Johnson '36 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 72)
LTjg Porter Maxwell '36 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 71)
LTjg Donald Patterson '37 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 71)
ENS Frank Case, Jr. '38 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 71)
ENS Alphonse Minvielle '38 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 72)


Class of 1928

John is one of 17 members of the Class of 1928 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

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