Sergeant First Class Tony K. Burris, a soldier in the U.S. Army, was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry on October 8, 1951 in Mundung-ni, Korea during the Korean War. At the time he was serving with Company L, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Burris was 22 years old.
The medal was presented on August 14, 1952.
Burris was born on May 30, 1929 in Blanchard, McClain County, Oklahoma. Burris died on October 9, 1951 in Korea, at the age of 22. He is buried at Blanchard Cemetery in Blanchard, Oklahoma.
Burris is one of 153 Medal of Honor recipients from the Korean War and one of 25 credited to Oklahoma.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Sfc. Burris, a member of Company L, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty. On 8 October, when his company encountered intense fire from an entrenched hostile force, Sfc. Burris charged forward alone, throwing grenades into the position and destroying approximately 15 of the enemy. On the following day, spearheading a renewed assault on enemy positions on the next ridge, he was wounded by machine-gun fire but continued the assault, reaching the crest of the ridge ahead of his unit and sustaining a second wound. Calling for a 57-mm recoilless-rifle team, he deliberately exposed himself to draw hostile fire and reveal the enemy position. The enemy machine-gun emplacement was destroyed. The company then moved forward and prepared to assault other positions on the ridgeline. Sfc. Burris, refusing evacuation and submitting only to emergency treatment, joined the unit in its renewed attack but fire from hostile emplacement halted the advance. Sfc. Burris rose to his feet, charged forward and destroyed the first emplacement with its heavy machine gun and crew of six men. Moving out to the next emplacement, and throwing his last grenade, which destroyed this position, he fell mortally wounded by enemy fire. Inspired by his consummate gallantry, his comrades renewed a spirited assault which overran enemy positions and secured Hill 605, a strategic position in the battle for "Heartbreak Ridge." Sfc. Burris' indomitable fighting spirit, outstanding heroism, and gallant self-sacrifice reflect the highest glory upon himself, the infantry, and the U.S. Army.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
On the following day, spearheading a renewed assault on enemy positions on the next ridge, he was wounded by machine-gun fire but continued the assault, reaching the crest of the ridge ahead of his unit and sustaining a second wound.
Moving out to the next emplacement, and throwing his last grenade, which destroyed this position, he fell mortally wounded by enemy fire.
- Awarded posthumously — died October 9, 1951.
- Age at death: 22
- Resting place: Blanchard Cemetery
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Tony K. Burris received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Korean War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Oklahoma →
Timeline
- May 30, 1929Born in Blanchard, McClain County, Oklahoma
- October 8, 1951Act of valor — Mundung-ni, KoreaAge 22. Company L, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division
- October 9, 1951Died in KoreaAge 22.
- August 14, 1952Medal of Honor presented posthumously
- Resting placeBlanchard CemeteryBlanchard, Oklahoma
Biography
Tony Kenneth Burris (May 30, 1929 – October 9, 1951) was a Choctaw soldier in the United States Army during the Korean War, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 8–9, 1951, during the Battle of Heartbreak Ridge. He is buried in Blanchard Cemetery, Blanchard, Oklahoma. His grave can be found at GPS (lat/lon): 35.1591, -97.65226.
From the Wikipedia article “Tony K. Burris”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
