Pvt. William Anthony BURKE

BURKE, FOX

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 4/19/2012 at 05:06:44

Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Monday, June 08, 1942, Page 8

Local Marine Is on Midway

Pvt. William A. BURKE of the United States marine corps, son of Mrs. Ida BURKE, 410 Fifth street southeast, is stationed on Midway island, scene of the huge naval battle in which Yankee forces took a heavy toll of the Japanese fleet and aircraft. BURKE was on of the marine garrison which prevented the Japs from landing on that stategic Pacific post. He had previously been stationed in Honolul. The local marine enlisted Jan. 28. In a recent letter to his mother he told of finding the Midway marines were supplied with canned meat bearing the label of the Jacob E. Decker and Sons plant in Mason City. In the same letter he remarked that "it keeps up the morale to gt mail from home." He said he hadn't had a letter for two months and then received 17 in one mail.

~ ~ ~ ~

Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Wednesday, June 17, 1942, Page 8

Rites for Burke, Killed at Midway, Planned for Wednesday

Mother Is Notified of Death of Local Marine in Battle

Requiem high mass for Pvt. William A. BURKE, son of Mrs. Ida BURKE, 410 Fifth street southeast, will be celebrated Wednesday morning at 9:30 at St. Joseph's Catholic church by Father Gerald STIERT. Private BURKE, a United States marine, was killed in action during the recent battle at Midway island, his mother was notified Sunday morning in a telegram from a marine corps lieutenant general.

Rosary for the local youth, who would have been 19 years old Monday, will be said at 8 o'clock Tuesday night at St. Joseph's church.

Notification of Private BURKE'S death gave no details. It stated that he was killed "in the performance of his duty and while serving his country." It said also that interment temporarily would be in the locality where the death occurred. His mother received two letters dated May 30 from him Monday morning. In his letters he said the marine corps was "tops."

The Mason Cityan quit his studies in the local junior college after attending for a year and one-half to enlist in the marine corps on Jan. 28 of this year. He received his training in the marine corps base in San Diego, Cal, and was known to be in the corps' aircraft group. He was sent to Honolulu in April, and in mid-April was sent to Midway.

* * *
He attended the Legion-sponsored Boy's State two years ago and was the first Boys' Stater to be killed in action in World war II. His father was a veteran of the first World war. Mason City delegates to Boys' State, who return from Grinnell Monday night, will attend the mass Wednesday.

Members of the American Legion and Auxiliary and V.F.W. and Auxiliary and their color guards will also attend the mass.

* * *
Private BURKE was prominent in local activities. He was a member of the Holy Name society of St. Joseph's church, a member of the Collegiate club in junior college, and at one time was an assistant sports-writer for the Globe-Gazette.He was aslo a former Globe-Gazette carrier boy.

* * *
He was born June 15, 1923. BURKE attended grade and high schools at St. Joseph's, and then enrolled in junior college.

He is survived by his mother, two brothers, Jack, 17, and Bob, 15, all at home, and a grandmother, Mrs. Josephine FOX of New Haven. He was preceded in death by his father and a brother.

The Meyer funeral home is in charge of arrangements for the service.

~ ~ ~ ~
Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Wednesday, June 17, 1942, Page 8

HIGH MASS SUNG FOR W. A. BURKE AT ST. JOSEPH'S

Patriotic Groups at Rites for Marine Killed at Midway

Requiem high mass for Pvt. William A. BURKE, son of Mrs. Ida BURKE, 410 Fifth street southeast, was celebrated Wednesday morning at St. Joseph's Catholic church by Father Gerald STEIBERT. The mass was sung by the St. Joseph's school children's choir.

Private BURKE, 18, a United States marie, was killed in action during the recent battle at Midway island.

* * *
Honorary pallbearers at the services were James GROSS, James PATTEE, Donald SKYLES, Harlan ALTIZ, John McCLUNG, Dale FOX, John MADDEN, Dick CAHALAN, Locke EASTON and Bob MOTT.

Ushers at the church were Victor COYLE, B. R. DUNN and E. M. NANGLE. Elias KELROY was in charge of arrangements.

Bob FONTANA, Grinnell, governor of Boys State, wired to Commander Roy KISER, Clausen-Worden post of the American Legion, condolences for the first Boys State to be killed in action.

"We wish to express our deepest regrets of the death of Bill BURKE, killed in action at Midway, but every Boys Stater would be willing to do the same for his country if called upon."

The Mason Cityan attended the Legion sponsored Boys State two years ago.

* * *
Organizations attending in groups were the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and V.F.W. Auxiliary, Gold Star Mothers, the Navy Mothers, Boys State members and the Spanish-American War veterans and Auxiliary, and classmates of Private BURKE.

Attending the services from out of the city were Mrs. Josephine FOX, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert MICHAEL, Mrs. Frank MARLEY, Mr. and Mrs. Matt FOX, Mrs. Walter FOX, Mr. and Mrs. Robert MAUSER, Mrs. Josie MILLER, Mrs. Kate FOX, Mrs. Gertie FOX, Mrs. Garland FOX, Mrs. Caspar FOX, and Amy GREEN and Grace LOCKWOOD, all of New Haven, Iowa; Mrs. Allie WAGNER and Bob, and Mrs. William GREELEY of Riceville; and Madeline MARLEY, Waterloo.

Interment was made temporarily in the locality where death occurred. The Meyer funeral home was in charge of arrangements in Mason City.

~ ~ ~ ~
Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Tuesday, June 23, 1942, Page 14

Marine Corps Lauds Burke for Record

Mrs. Ida BURKE, 410 Fifth street southeast, has received a letter from Lieut. General T. HOLCOMB of the United States marine corps in which he informed her that her son, Pvt. William A. BURKE, of the marine corps, "lost his life in action against the enemies of his country."

"Due to the military situation prevailing at the place of death it was necessary to bury the remains of your son at sea on June 6," the officer wrote.

Private BURKE was killed in action on June 4 during the Midway island battle in which Yankee forces smashed a Japanese invasion armada.

"I wish to express my deepest sympathy to you and members of your family in your great loss," wrote the marine corps officer. He added, "There is little I can say to lessen your grief, but it is my earnest hope that the knowledge of your son's splendid record in the service, and the thought that he nobly gave his life in the performance of his duty may in some measure comfort you in this sad hour."

~ ~ ~ ~
Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Friday, October 30, 1942, Page 2

A number of local men were active in the fierce battle for Midway island where a Mason City marine, Pvt. William BURKE, lost his life. Stephen SMITH, a veteran navy pilot, flew a torpedo plane which was struck by 68 navy bullet during the battle. Malvin O. PERKINS, master mechanic 1st class, who was injured at Pearl Harbor, also took part in the battle. Other local men there were P.F.C. LaVerne HILL of the marines, Edward P. HAND, boatswain's mate 1st class, and John JACOBS, aviation machinist's mate 3rd class.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2012

Cerro Gordo Obituaries maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen