Kevin Gail Burke
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army

On 20 November 1968, First Lieutenant Kevin Gail Burke was serving with Company A, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, in South Vietnam.

On that day, 1LT Burke was a platoon leader on a combat sweep operation near the village of Tan My in Quang Tin Province. During a battle with a large force of North Vietnamese regulars, 1LT Burke volunteered to lead 15 men to rescue several wounded and dead comrades who lay at the base of a hill. Throwing hand grenades and firing his rifle, he came within 20 meters of the hostile positions as he worked his way down the hill. After reaching the casualties, he supervised their evacuation and remained behind to provide covering fire, killing at least 5 of the communists. When his men had escaped, 1LT Burke attempted to rescue a seriously injured man that lay next to an enemy bunker. Braving North Vietnamese machine gun fire, he charged the fortification and, while returning fire with his rifle, was mortally wounded by the hostile fusillade. 1LT Burke's extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Kevin Gail Burke (ASN: 0-5539311), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company A, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. First Lieutenant Burke distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 20 November 1968 as a platoon leader on a combat sweep operation near the village of Tan My in Quang Tin Province. During a battle with a large force of North Vietnamese regulars, Lieutenant Burke volunteered to lead fifteen men to rescue several wounded and dead comrades who lay at the base of a hill. Throwing hand grenades and firing his rifle, he came within twenty meters of the hostile positions as he worked his way down the hill. After reaching the casualties, he supervised their evacuation and remained behind to provide covering fire, killing at least five of the communists. When his men had escaped, Lieutenant Burke attempted to rescue a seriously injured man who lay next to an enemy bunker. Braving North Vietnamese machine gun fire, he charged the fortification and while returning fire with his rifle, was mortally wounded by the hostile fusillade. First Lieutenant Burke's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 392 (February 4, 1969)

Honors

The name Kevin G Burke is located on Panel 38W Line 14 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

First Lieutenant Kevin Gail Burke is buried at Atlantic Catholic Cemetery in Atlantic, Cass County, IA.