Sergeant Burdette was a member of the 8221st Field Artillery Topographic and Meteorological Detachment. On 8 April 1952, while performing surveying work near Yach'on'ni, North Korea, he was killed by an anti-personnel mine.

Burdette was awarded the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.