Lloyd L. Burke
| Lloyd L. Burke | |
|---|---|
Medal of Honor recipient Lloyd Burke
|
|
| Nickname(s) | Scooter |
| Born |
September 29, 1924 Tichnor, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Died | June 1, 1999 (aged 74) Hot Springs, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Place of burial | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Army
|
| Years of service | 1943–1946, 1950–1978 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division |
| Battles/wars |
World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
| Awards |
Medal of Honor Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star Bronze Star Purple Heart (2) |
Lloyd Leslie Burke (September 29, 1924 – June 1, 1999) was a soldier in the United States Army during the Korean War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 28, 1951.
He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia. His grave can be located in section 7A, grave 155, map Grid U-23.5.
In 1943, Burke was eighteen years old when he dropped out of Henderson State College now Henderson State University in Arkansas. He joined the United States Army and served two years during World War II with combat engineers in Italy. After being discharged, he joined the ROTC when he returned to Henderson State College. In 1950, he graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate. After accepting his commission, he was dispatched to Korea five months later. At the time, he was the leader of Company G, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment. When Chinese forces crossed the Yalu River, Burke managed to lead his platoon to safety. As a result of his action, he was awarded the Silver Star, Distinguished Service Cross, and two Purple Hearts.
Burke's tour of duty was almost over in October 1951. At the time, Burke was found at the rear of his regiment. He had a plane ticket in his pocket and was eager to see his wife and infant son. Two miles away, Burke's company was attempting to cross the Yokkok-chon River. The company was hindered by a large and well-entrenched Chinese force on Hill 200. The battle enraged for days as the 2nd Battalion's attacks were constantly being repelled. At first, Lieutenant Burke kept up with the reports. Eventually, he no longer tolerated what was going on and decided to enter the front lines. As he himself stated, "I couldn't see leaving my guys up there without trying to do something."
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