Robert C. Burke
Robert Charles Burke was a United States Marine who was killed in action on May 17, 1968 during the Vietnam War and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Private First Class Burke at age eighteen, was the youngest Medal of Honor recipient of the Vietnam War.
Biography
;IllinoisBurke was born on November 7, 1949, in Monticello, Illinois. While still a student at Monticello High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in Chicago, March 17, 1967. Burke was discharged to enlist in the regular Marine Corps on May 16, 1967.
;U.S. Marine Corps
Upon completion of recruit training with the 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, on July 20, 1967, he was transferred to the Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California. He completed individual combat training with Company Q, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment, in August 1967, and was promoted to private first class on September 1, 1967.
From September 1967 until January 1968, he was a student with the Motor Transport School, Student Company, Schools Battalion. This was followed by duty as a motor vehicle mechanic with Headquarters and Service Company, 5th Military Police Battalion, 5th Marine Division, Camp Pendleton.
;Vietnam
In February 1968, he was sent to the Republic of Vietnam where he was assigned to Company I, 3rd Battalion, 27th Marines, 1st Marine Division as a Machine Gunner. He was killed in action charging enemy positions on May 17, 1968, while on Operation Allen Brook with Company I, in the hamlet of Le Nam, Go Noi Island in Southern Quảng Nam Province.
;Burial
Pfc. Burke is buried in Monticello Cemetery, in Monticello, Illinois.
Medal of Honor citation
The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously toPRIVATE FIRST CLASS ROBERT C. BURKE
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
/S/ RICHARD M. NIXON
Military decorations & awards
Pfc. Burke's service ribbons include:| Medal of Honor | ||
| Purple Heart Medal | National Defense Service Medal | Vietnam Service Medal with service star |
| RVN Military Merit Medal | RVN Gallantry Cross with palm | RVN Campaign Medal with 1960- Bar |