VFW IL Post 2580 Veterans of Foreign Wars Department Illinois Midlothian Memorial Post
Bill Burtner, a 65-year-old Southwest Side resident and commander of Midlothian VFW Post 2580, died Wednesday after being beaten and robbed on Monday.
Posted on 11/21/2009 7:07:12 AM PST by KeyLargo
Vietnam veteran robbed, killed on his way to deposit VFW money
William Burtner had helped raise money for WWII vets' trip to Washington
Army veteran William Burtner survived Vietnam and dedicated his life to helping other veterans.
On Monday, Burtner was about to enter a bank in Midlothian to deposit money that the south suburb's Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2580 had raised during a benefit.
He never made it inside.
Burtner, 65, was assaulted and robbed outside the bank. He died Wednesday night in Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.
An autopsy Thursday concluded Burtner died of hypertensive cardiovascular disease and fractured ribs from the assault, the Cook County medical examiner's office said. It ruled the death a homicide.
Burtner was about to deposit proceeds from a VFW benefit last weekend for Chicago area World War II veterans so they could visit a war memorial in Washington, said Katherine Foss, a family friend...........
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
VFW IL Post 2580 Veterans of Foreign Wars Department Illinois Midlothian Memorial Post
Bill Burtner, a 65-year-old Southwest Side resident and commander of Midlothian VFW Post 2580, died Wednesday after being beaten and robbed on Monday.
Jerry Brown, 27, of the 1100 block of West 104th Place in Chicago, has been charged with robbery in connection with the incident and may face more serious charges now that the victim has died, police said. They said a second man remains at large.
Brown was arrested shortly after he and another man fled from a Ford Mustang, believed to be the getaway vehicle, after it crashed not far from the bank, police said.
November 18, 2009 (Midlothian, Ill.) (WLS) — The head of the VFW in southwest suburban Midlothian has died from injuries suffered in a robbery.
Bill Burtner, 65, was attacked outside of a bank on Monday. Police are still looking for one of the suspects.
Burtner was a retired postal worker but not finished working. Though he had cancer, friends said he continually helped others.
“Whatever Bill did, he did it to make the community better, and not just for the veterans but he did work for the community,” said Ruben Pesina.
Burtner was the commander of VFW Post 25-80 in Midlothian. He led the post about seven years.
“No job was beneath him...he would mop the floor, if he had to, or go out and talk to the parents of soldiers, if he needed to, it didn’t matter. He was always there for him,” said George Doeden, VFW Friend.
On Saturday, the post raised more than $2,000 to help World War II Vets visit D.C.
Monday morning, relatives say Burtner came to this Midlothian bank to deposit the money when a robber attacked him from behind.
The medical examiner says Burtner’s ribs were broken, triggering heart complications. He died Wednesday night.
One suspect, 27-year-old Jerry L. Brown, of Chicago, is in custody and now facing robbery charges.
Midlothian Police say this is still an open investigation and they are still looking for a second suspect.
“I think justice has to be served,” said Pesina.
Back at the post, the sign outside is a tribute to Burtner - it reads “You will be missed.”
“Right now the whole post is hurting but we will have some reorganizing to do, pick up and keep Bill’s spirit alive,” said Doeden.
Video report:
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=7129009
Give me a torch and knife and I’ll make these goblins wish they had never even considered hurting this man.
It is past time for all men in America to arm themselves. Especially the elderly.
Given this is Chicago, no doubt they will arrive at the conclusion that the vet committed suicide.
Veteran robbed and killed
(01:45) 11/20/2009 at 03:19am
News video:
http://www.wgntv.com/videobeta/watch/?watch=24596c04-728c-4fda-87a8-35eb7dd75530&src=front
Yup! As you speak! The BS is over.
More like he taunted the ‘disadvantaged youths’ with his obvious wealth and prosperity...god rest his soul...
Today, I plan on sending a donation to the VFW post to try to help make up for the money that was stolen so the families can still make the trip that Mr. Burtner was working to see come to fruition.
Thank you for your service Mr. Burtner. May you rest in peace.
Sarcasm aside, thanks to all vets for their service and may Bill be reunited with his buddies who have gone on ahead. God Bless and rest in honored glory!
Oops, make that the dark tan courtesy phone.
Wish there was a way to donate to that VFW post so the vets could get their trip.
The ABC News report finally showed a picture of Jerry L. Brown, one of the perps in the attack.
Gee. What a surprise.
Rest in peace, Cmdr. Burtner. Your ongoing service to our country and your community was rewarded from seeds planted in the mid 1960s, when the new Great Society was going end poverty and related urban crime like this.
And now we reap a bitter harvest, and watch good men, like Bill Burtner, die. Is this the America we want?
And where are the leftie social engineers, wiping the blood from their hands and apologizing for dragging this country down the rat hole?
I’m not holding my breath.
I think it is time to head for the jail, bring a rope and demand instant justice. I would think a band of vets should be conversant with using force to reach their goal if needed.
I am mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore should be their cry. I think that happens a few times nationally and there would be an end to this type crap.
For the record, my great uncle who received a silver star for service near Bastogne was killed in a mugging in the 80s. They never found the scum.
That is a fantastic idea. Let’s see if we can get it rolling.
If anyone reading this has any pull with the VFW...it would be awesome if they could set up a specific donation link for the members of VFW.
I just sent the following email to Mr. Jerry Newberry, who is listed as the national hq contact. If anyone has a better contact or can do it themselves, please do so. I’m in for the first 100 bucks, and I wish I could do more.
“Sir,
It is with great sadness that I read of the robbery and murder of the Commander of VFW post 25-80, Mr. Bill Burtner.
The news stories I have read mention that the post lost the 2,000 dollars they had raised to help WWII Vets visit Washington D.C. It makes no mention of whether the money was recovered.
I read through the VFW’s main site, and found your donation page. However, I was wondering if it was possible to donate directly to 25-80, so that the Illinois Vets may continue their trip. If you were to place a link to donate straight to them on your main site, I have little doubt that the good citizens of America would quickly replace what was so wrongly taken from them. I personally will donate the first $100 towards their trip. I would be happy to do what little I could to attract attention to their cause.
Please let me know what you think of this matter.”
Anyone who would like to donate, please email them and let them know you’d like to replace the lost money for the Vet’s D.C. trip. Don’t let these thugs steal their Commander AND their trip. Our WWII vets have precious little time left.
Oops...my second sentence should read...
“...would be awesome if they could set up a specific donation link for the members of VFW Post 25-80.”
Sorry about that.
Oh, there is a sad lack of humanity in these predators.
I want to scream when I hear the root causes excuse for these savage crimes.
So sorry for your loss. I am sure it still hurts.
Some people walk tall and give their whole lives, others crawl in the their own filth just take. Even in death he shone brighter then those who took him down.
The snail mail address is:
Post 2580 Midlothian Memorial Post
14817 S Pulaski Rd
Midlothian, IL 60445
United States
God bless this vet’s family.
There has GOT to be a reckoning at some point soon for the murderous animals who did this. This evil has to be stopped.
P.S.
Please prepare your families for the coming unrest. It’s only going to take one natural disaster, terrorist attack or sun flare for the whole country to be plunged into anarchy. The big guy gave us Katrina as a warning bell to prepare.
Was it the former California governor?
/sarc
They had scum like this kid 100 years ago—not as many due to them fearing society’s retribution if they did this stuff.
They were a lot smarter about handling stuff like this to deter the other depraved imbecilic trash who might want to try it.
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