Major Burdue was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a Disciples of Christ Chaplain, assigned to Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. He was taken Prisoner of War while tending to the wounded and dying near Kunu-ri, North Korea on 30 November 1950 and died while a prisoner on 31 July 1951. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

Burdue was awarded the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.