SP4 Elijah Wallace Burkett (KIA)

 

 

PERSONAL DATA
Home of Record: Hattiesburg, MS
Date of birth: 11/11/1947
Race: Negro
Religion: Baptist
Marital Status: Single

MILITARY DATA
Service: Army of the United States
Grade at loss: E4
Rank: Specialist Four
ID No: 587347736
MOS: 11B20: Infantryman
Length Service: 01
Unit: B CO, 2ND BN, 501ST INFANTRY, 101ST ABN DIV, USARV

CASUALTY DATA
Start Tour: 12/05/1968
Incident Date: 07/10/1969
Casualty Date: 07/10/1969
Age at Loss: 21
Location: Thua Thien, South Vietnam
Remains: Body recovered
Casualty Type: Hostile, died outright
Casualty Reason: Ground casualty
Casualty Detail: Multiple fragmentation wounds

 

 

Elijah is buried at Pine Grove Cemetery in Forrest, Mississippi and he is honored on Panel 40W of the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. He is also honored on Panel 21W, Row 91 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC

 

“I remember the day that you got hit. In the morning you were dancing to some music in your head and standing in a small fox hole. I had not been in-country long and we really didn’t know each other real well. Got to know all of the squad real well that day though and we are all brothers and that is for life. I think of all of you all the time. It never leaves me. I found this site and it brings all of the time in Nam back so vivid.
Each day was forever. Whether I was walking point or back at LZ Sally, the time is still in my mind. Each day was so real. Thanks Phil for writing a remembrance and keeping your promise.”

~Len Blachly

 

“I kept my promise to you that if you ever got hit, I would carry you. I still think of you often.”
~Phil Hazen

 

 

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