FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: John G. Burkhalter ~ January 30, 2012

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | StarCMC

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

---

~ Hall of Heroes ~

John G. Burkhalter

 Story from this website.

           

Rev. John G. Burkhalter, was a Baptist minister and highly-decorated chaplain who served in World War II and the Korean War. He was part of the D-Day invasion of Normandy at Omaha Beach.

Burkhalter was born in Thomasville, Georgia on July 23, 1909. While an adolescent, he boxed professionally under the name "Jacky Mills," and played on the 1929 Miami High School football team. In 1935, Burkhalter was named senior pastor of the West Flagler Park Baptist Church in Miami, Florida, and married his high school sweetheart, miss Mable Money, the following year.

World War II

Burkhalter enlisted in the United States Army and graduated from the Chaplain’s School at Harvard. In 1943, He was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division and landed on Omaha Beach on D-day. An account of his experiences was printed in the Miami Daily News on August 6, 1944.  Rev Burkhalter sustained multiple head injuries due to exploding shrapnel during the Battle of the Bulge. He was declared "missing in action" for several weeks before eventually turning up in a French hospital. Burkhalter received a Purple Heart for these deeds. Burkhalter was awarded the Bronze Star for valor and America’s third highest honor, The Silver Star for gallantry. His citation for the Silver Star reads as follows: "For gallantry in action in the vicinity of Haaren, Germany, 21 October 1944. Although constantly subjected to heavy artillery bombardment and several times thrown to the ground by concussion of exploding shells, Chaplain Burkhalter moved about an exposed area and directed the recovery of the bodies of American casualties. Chaplain Burkhalter’s courage and coolness under fire were of great inspiration to all who witnessed his gallant deeds."

 

Korean War

Burkhalter also spent time with the 2nd Infantry Division and would spend a total of 20 months in the European Theater of Operations. On March 22, 1946, Burkhalter was promoted to the rank of Captain and was assigned to an occupational duty in Japan. He stayed in Japan several years until the Korean War escalated. During the Korean War, he served primarily with the 51st Signal Battalion and the 73rd Tank Battalion. While serving near Kumch’on in the summer of 1950, Rev. Burkhalter gained notoriety when his name and a photograph of him conducting a funeral were published in Life Magazine. Burkhalter was promoted to Major during the Korean War and would spend thirteen months in Korea. After the war, Burkhalter would serve in several different posts and entered the US Army Reserves. On July 3, 1969, Burkhalter would officially retire from the United States Army as a Lieutenant Colonel. Some of Burkhalter’s military adventures were recorded in 2000 in the book, “Heroes to Remember” by Brandon R. Sanders

 

Burkhalter held bachelors degrees in history from the University of Miami and divinity from Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania. Burkhalter held a Masters degree in history from Stetson University and began doctoral work at American University. He pastored several churches including West Flagler Park Baptist Church in Miami, Van Buren Street Baptist Church in Eastport (1959-1963), Berkley Baptist Church in Mount Royal, N.J. (1963-1967) and Maryland City Baptist Church in Laurel (1967-1968). He founded Temple Baptist Church (renamed Riva Community Bible Church) in Riva, Md. in 1973, and served as pastor there until 1988.

Burkhalter died on September 30, 1992 at the age of 83 and was buried with full military honors on Chaplain’s Hill at Arlington National Cemetery. The burial was carried out by the 3rd US Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and included a military band, American flag draped over the coffin, horse-drawn wagon, 21-gun salute, taps, riderless horse, etc.

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

[Kathy in Alaska]

And rounding out the top three....Sand bags the bronze!!

[luvie]

Great story, Galz! The chaplains are as necessary as bullets at times...to keep the troops centered and keep their spirits up in the bad times by reminding them of Who is really in charge.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Anticipation is good. d:o)

[BIGLOOK]

Aloha again Night Owl ((HUGS))

Sunny today and two days of connectivity problems.....always on weekends. Tomorrow is the day to solve them or make a formal complaint to my ISP.

[luvie]

Howdy, Sarge! Good to see you tonight...or at anytime! :)

I know your Sis is so glad you’re there to help out!

[luvie]

hmmmmm....did I break the thread again? :D

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Dave...((HUGS))...LCol Burkhalter sure was a hero. And then to be listed as “missing in action” for weeks...rough times.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Tomorrow is the day to solve them or make a formal complaint to my ISP.

Good...enough is enough.

[HiJinx]

hmmmmm....did I break the thread again? :D

Maybe BIGLOOOK's connection problems have infected the Canteen. Anyone wanna help get rid of the bugs?

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

((HUGS))Good morning, Ladies. Thanks for this morning's thread, Star. How's it going?

[ConorMacNessa]

Good morning, everyone. Going in to the hospital for a minor procedure this morning. Nothing to worry about. I expect to be home by noon and will check in then. Hope everyone has a great morning!

Etiam non princeps sed usque ad genua, Principis Pacis!

[alfa6]

Good Luck at the body and fender shoppe

Best Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, Canteen.

Good morning to our

Military, our Allies, and their families.

THANK YOU for all you do.

Thank you, Star, for preparing the Canteen for today’s activities.
KUDOS and thank you go out to
Rev. John G. Burkhalter, United States Army
(July 23, 1909-September 30, 1992)
for his service.

R I P

DC Metroland weather report

~ Today...Mostly sunny.
Highs in the upper 40s.
West winds 5 to 10 mph.

~ Tonight... Mostly cloudy in the evening...
Then becoming partly cloudy.
Lows in the mid 30s.
South winds 5 to 10 mph.

WOO HOO!
We're in for a couple days of warmish weather.
60s Tues and Wed.

Has anyone else noticed that it's
getting lighter earlier?
Guess I'll start monitoring that
since it is an indicator of spring

Sunrise: 7:16 AM EST
Sunset: 5:26 PM EST

Time for me to make my rounds.
But, you stay right where you are.
Cause...............I'll be bock!

The FR Canteen is

Come in and sit for a while.
There's always plenty of coffee, tea,
pancakes, conversation, silliness,
and plain old BS

REMEMBER THEM

DEFENDERS OF FREEDOM

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allied military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before.

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, Beach. How’s it going?

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, EG ((HUGS))

Going ok for being a Monday.

Howz it out your way? Have a good weekend?

[Arrowhead1952]

Good morning to everyone at the Canteen. It's another nice day here in Texas.

[E.G.C.]

had a great weekend. Nice weather. Also did some stuff with Bo including throwing a coffee bucket with him and other things.

[beachn4fun]

throwing a coffee bucket at him

????

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, dear ((HUGS))

It looks like our daytime temps are going to be somewhere around your 7:40 a.m. temps.

How was your weekend?

[luvie]

LOL! Good idea, Jinxy! I'm sure the little critters are everywhere!