1st Lt. Edward 'Ned' Burr

Biography and Wartime Service

Edward Burr was born at Fort Knox, Kentucky on November 6, 1921 to John and Ruth Burr and grew up as the son of an Army Officer. On July 1, 1940 he entered the United States Military Academy as a member of the West Point Class of June 1943, graduating one year early because of World War II. Ned's lineage at West Point goes back to the 16th graduate in history from the Academy, appointed by Thomas Jefferson. After graduation he served with the 83rd Infantry Division in Europe and while serving as a forward artillery observer was seriously wounded near Sainteny, Normandy, France. He was in love with Nikki when he went back to Normandy in 1944 and upon his return home in 1946, Ned and Nikki became engaged. Edward Burr married Patricia A. Nicholas in New Hempstead, New York. Their relationship began in 1943, and through an exchange of some 300 letters in three years, resulting in their marriage on December 21, 1946. Ned Burr then returned to finish his tour in Europe. After their marriage, he served in Albuquerque as assemblyman on the Mark VI Atomic Bomb before joining the 25th Division in Korea in March 1951 as Chief of Fire Direction of the 64th Field Artillery Battalion. He completed two years of combat duty. As a veteran of World War II and Korea, he was involved in ten major campaigns, five in Europe and five in Korea. He later commanded the first tactical Sergeant Missile Battalion sent to Europe. Ned retired in 1966 and went to work for Mitre Corporation for almost 20 years. In 2003, he and Nikki moved to the retirement community 'The Fairfax' after 36 blissful years in their lovely Mantua Hills home.

At The Fairfax, Ned served four years on the Resident's Council, two as Chairman. He worked with iUniverse in producing the history of The Fairfax in a beautiful book. He acted as interviewer for over 20 interviews made in half-hour segments with military personnel, produced for the program, "Military Memories". He wrote the inscription on the painting of the Founder of The Fairfax, Gen. Frank Camm, hanging at The Fairfax. Ned was a Ham Operator with a general license and was on the net for over 15 years as Kilo Charlie 4 Delta India Alpha. He served as President of the Class of June of '43 for many years until shortly before the end of his life. Colonel Edward 'Ned' Burr II (Ret.) passed away on March 31, 2020. His wife Patricia 'Nikki' Burr died the morning of January 31, 2014. Asked about his life, Ned's response was always that Nikki was his life, so we can all be happy that they are now together.

Source: Edward 'Ned' Burr's obituary, written by himself

I had the pleasure of meeting him at The Fairfax in January 2017. As a conclusion to my Journalism studies I, together with another student, put together a magazine about WW2 in Belgium. For this we traveled to the US and interviewed several US Veterans, among which was Ned Burr. We had the pleasure of spending several hours with Ned at the Fairfax after which he took us out to dinner! An unforgetable experience with a remarkable man.

Gallery

click on the images to enlarge