A Time To Remember

I was the last person to speak to Lt Burton before he died. He was extremely excited about getting pictures of his baby which had just been born (about 2 months old if I remember correctly). He had those pictures and a letter wrapped up like precious cargo and stuffed under the protective cover of his steel pot. We spent a good 10 minutes talking about how proud he was to be a Pappa and how he couldn't wait to see his baby.

Ten minutes later Bob Pries & I plus a couple of others were pulling him out of the woodline. He had died instantly from a bullet taken during the first ambush of a long day during which time 1st (?) Platoon Bravo Company (2/47) had almost the entire platoon + headquarters element either wounded or killed.

I have often wished I knew how to reach his family to tell them how brave he was and that his last thoughts were of home and loved ones.

The second person killed in that ambush, Dwight McNeese, was acting as Lt Burton's RTO. He was new to the platoon but had operated with Lt Burton before and obviously had earned Burton's respect to be assigned the job of Platoon RTO so quickly after being reassigned.

Both he and Lt Burton were directly in front of me when we were ambushed. Dwight though mortally wounded maintained his fighting stance and showed tremendous heroism. He seemed to be totally unaware of his massive wounds and was still alive and active as he was being medivacced.

Both of these people exemplified The Courage, Strength and Devotion to duty that all of Bravo Company were noted for.

I am very proud to have served with these Men of Bravo company plus the rest of 2/47th. During the many brutal battles that they were associated with, they always gave of themselves unselfishly and without fear.

Below are descriptions from The Wall of These two brave men.

Sincerely, Glenn Norris