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William Curoe Burns NO. 16489 CLASS OF 1948 Died 18 September 1976 in Alexandria, Virginia, aged 49 years. Interment: West Point, New York WILLIAM CUROE BURNS Bill BURNS was bom in Anamosa, Iowa on 25 June 1927, the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Burns. After distinguishing himself as the honor graduate of the Christian Brothers School in Peoria, Illinois, Bill was appointed to the Military Academy by Senator Everett Dirksen of Illinois. He entered West Point as one of the youngest and brightest cadets in our Class. He sailed through cadet days with academic distinction and the respect and admiration of his classmates, rising to the top of the Class with little effort. Upon graduation, he chose Engineers as his branch of service and reported to Okinawa for his first assignment. With the outbreak of the war in Korea, he volunteered for combat and served with distinction during the first year of that war. Rotated to Fort Belvoir from Korea, he put his experience and talents into the training of Engineer officers needed by the Army in Korea. Next Bill earned his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering at Purdue and then taught "juice" at the Academy, ending up as Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and Nuclear Physics. Those were wonderful and happy days. Bill was a natural as an instructor and took a great interest in his cadets. This time was also very special because he married his beloved Casey, and they began the hectic, but rich Army family life which alternately produced great trauma, and wonderful, fond memories. Caron, their first daughter, was born at West Point, and the family began to grow. Casey remained in Highland Falls while Bill completed the Engineer Advance Course at Belvoir and then moved to Thule, Greenland, where he supervised the construction of the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System. With his bosses in New York City, Bill particularly enjoyed the tour because it gave him the freedom and responsibility which a young, gifted officer can so readily appreciate. Their second daughter, Michelle, was born at West Point during Bill's service in Greenland. The Burns next found themselves at the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth. They enjoyed the hectic year which characterized the academic and social life at Leavenworth and then found their way to Washington, where Bill was in charge of projects for the Nuclear Power Program, Office Chief of Engineers. He next moved to the Office of Personnel Operations, Engineer Branch, where he was responsible for assignments and was later the Deputy Branch Chief. Bill's great sense of humor and incisive wit were well established by this point in his career, and his descriptions of life in the personnel business are legendary. He was so successful that his next stop was the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort McNair. It was his first year of eligibility, and the selection was particularly welcome since it left the Burns in Washington. During their Washington stay, Bill and Casey were blessed with another daughter, Kathleen. Following the Industrial College, Bill was posted to Paris (and later Brussels) for assignment with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. He served as Director of Armaments under Ambassador Cleveland and others, with the responsibility for developing the United States position in research, development, and production of weapons systems. He was instrumental in establishing the Defense Industry Advisory Group, Europe, and served as the United States member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Hawk Board of Directors. Of all his fine career achievements, Bill was as proud of his contributions to NATO as anything he did. He was awarded the Legion of Merit for his singular achievements during this tour. Even more significant during this tour, however, was the arrival of their son, Bill Jr. Bill next went back to Korea where he commanded the 2d Engineer Group, the only one in Korea. Here he established new records in production while maintaining a top maintenance record. He returned to the United States to serve as District Engineer, Little Rock, Arkansas, where he completed the construction and initial operation of the Kerr-McClellan Arkansas River Navigation System. His outstanding contribution to the project was recognized by designation of the William C. Burns Recreational Area on the Waterway System. After two years in Little Rock, General Richard Stilwell, Commander of Eighth Army and the United Nations Command, Korea, selected Bill as his command Engineer. His performance is best described in the words of General Stilwell-"The most outstanding Engineer with whom I have ever served." In addition to his professional achievements, those two years in Korea saw the children develop, and so these were very special, happy times for Casey and Bill. He returned to Washington to fill a position directing the Postal Construction Program — a new mission assignment for the Chief of Engineers. As he was completing this pioneer assignment, he decided to retire from the Army and accepted employment in a key management position with Chas. T. Main, Inc. Consulting Engineers, Boston. Before he was able to begin his new career, he met his untimely death in a tragic automobile accident. When he was so unexpectedly taken from Casey and their four children, they faced their loss with the same calm determination that Bill had always displayed during crises. Bill surely must be proud that his love for them, and theirs for him, have continued to support them in his absence. Bill Burns — How do we remember him best? As a young man responding to the threat against our nation; as a classmate to whom cadet life was a marvelously amusing contest; as a soldier with an uncommon capacity for leadership; as a friend with whom we shared many memorable occasions; as a serious student always finding new ways to expand his horizons; as a teacher stimulating the intellectual curiosity of the young men he taught; as a senior officer handling difficult and sensitive responsibilities with deceptive ease; as a husband and a father whose love and devotion to his family were his greatest satisfaction; or as a marvelous human being whose warmth and wit brightened the life of everyone around him? If you were fortunate to have known Bill, you recognize that he was all of these. All who knew Bill Burns miss his wit, good fellowship, and brilliant intellect. He served his country through three wars and twenty-eight years of dedicated commitment to excellence. Among his many decorations were four Legions of Merit for distinguished service. Above all he loved — and dedicated himself to — his country, his family, his friends. He filled his life with a wonderful blend of accomplishments, pleasures, and personal development which we would all like to feel is our purpose on this earth. Thus, we who knew him cherish our friendship and salute Bill's special contributions to the Army he loved. —His Classmates

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