Private First Class Burns was a member of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Provisional Marine Brigade. He was Killed in Action while attacking Hill Chindong-ni, South Korea, on 8 August 1950 by enemy shrapnel.

Burns was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.