Tony K. Burris - Medal of Honor

I love Blanchard!!  I did half of my student teaching at the middle school in the Spring of 2007 and often wish I could have gotten hired on there.  From June 2007 - July 2009 I worked in Norman which meant I would drive through Blanchard twice a day during my commuting.  Their Subway is the cutest thing ever and I don't even mind the massive speed trap so much.

I have often noticed a statue off to the North of Highway 62 right there in the heart of Blanchard.  I just never spent much time wondering what it was all about.  On Saturday, March 31, Rick and I were on our way back from a shopping excursion at Home Depot in Norman (which sounds more exciting than it is - we were buying a new toilet! :-))   We already had a full day of getting SICK deals at some yard sales and winning in the largest lottery jackpot in history.  Unfortunately we did not score the $640 million or whatever it got to, but we did manage to score $21!  So at this point we are headed home from Norman and curiosity got the better of me.  After all, we were not in a hurry and I always need fodder for 'On Sooner Trails!'  So I tell Rick to turn at the light and park over by the statue.  I don't mind looking like a dumb tourist!  We get out and walk to the statue and lo and behold it is honoring a Medal of Honor recipient!!  I had no idea!  But not only is it a memorial honoring a Medal of Honor recipient, it is a name I know!  The Army Reserve Center in Chickasha (the same one I drove through a roadblock at on 9/11 - but then that is another story) is named after Tony K. Burris.  I just had no clue who he was before.  It is sad sometimes the stuff you miss that is right in front of you!


The memorial itself has Sergeant Burris charging a hill or something of the sort and underneath are plaques transcribed with the MOH citation, a letter he sent home, and the telegram to his family from the Army at his death.  According to what I have read online the memorial was dedicated in September of 2007 with General Tommy Franks as the keynote speaker.  Sergeant Burris is also buried in his hometown of Blanchard so when I do get around to the Blanchard Cemetery I will have to check that out! 

This is what the plaque with the MOH citation says: 

Congressional Medal of Honor

Sergeant First Class Tony K. Burris, USA

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his own life above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy:
Sergeant Burris, Infantry, United States Army, a member of Company L, 38^th Infantry Regiment, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in the vicinity of Mundung-ni, Korea, on 8 and 9 October, 1951.  On 8 October, when his company encountered intense fire from an entrenched hostile force, Sergeant First Class Burris charged forward alone, throwing grenades into the position and destroying approximately fifteen of the enemy.  On the following day, spearheading a renewed assault on enemy positions on the next ridge, he was wounded by machine gun fire but continued the assault, reaching the crest of the ridge ahead of his unit and sustaining a second wound.  Calling for a 57mm recoilless rifle team, he deliberately exposed himself to draw hostile fire and reveal the enemy position.  The enemy machine gun emplacement was destroyed.  The company then moved forward and prepared to assault other positions on the ridge line.  Sergeant First Class Burris, refusing evacuation and submitting only to emergency treatment, joined the unit in its renewed attack but fire from hostile emplacements halted the advance.  Sergeant First Class Burris rose to his feet, charged forward and destroyed the first emplacement with its heavy machine gun and crew of six men.  Moving out to the next emplacement, and throwing his last grenade which destroyed this position, he fell mortally wounded by enemy fire.   Inspired by his consummate gallantry, his comrades renewed a spirited assault which overran enemy positions and secured Hill 605, a strategic position in the battle for “Heartbreak Ridge.”  Sergeant First Class Burris’ indomitable fighting spirit, outstanding heroism, and gallant self-sacrifice reflect the highest glory upon himself, the Infantry, and the United States Army.

Now how cool is that?!  And during the Korean Conflict no less.  The Korean Conflict doesn't get as much attention as other military engagements.  Unless you count M*A*S*H of course.  :-)

To complete our mini adventure Rick got a picture of me with Sergeant Burris after I had taken several pics of the memorial. We then got back on the road and headed toward home!

There is some interesting info on the poorly named Congressional Medal of Honor Society website.  It seems there were 144 MOH recipients to come out of the Korean Conflict, 24 of which are still living.  I suppose it would be reasonable to double-check the information with other sources considering they call it the 'Congressional' MOH and the 'Korean War.'   I know, I know.  That's somewhat debatable.  But seriously - CONGRESS has to declare war for it to be officially 'war' for America.  Even though it was my favorite president who made the declaration that got us officially involved it still doesn't count.

I also learned that since 1863 there have been 3,458 MOH recipients most recently in September 2009 to a Marine in Afghanistan.  Oddly enough, the only woman to receive one was in the Civil War!  There has been only one Coast Guard recipient and 19 double recipients!! (Note the appropriately placed exclamation points. :-))

Another interesting factoid:  there are 3 MOH designs currently in use!  There is one for the Army, one for Navy/Marine Corps/Coast Guard and one for the Air Force.  I did not realize there were different designs used at the same time!  Personally I think that the Air Force should still use the Army one, but they haven't consulted me.  :-)

Anyway, check out the CMOHS website.  The MOH citations are especially interesting reads.