The Knoxville Journal, August 12, 1945:
Private First Class John Brient Burleson enlisted in the US Army on April 10, 1942 at Camp Forrest, Tennessee and received his training at Camp Wolters, Texas. he spent a year in Bermuda, after which he returned to the States for special training. He was then sent to Hawaii, and later took part in the invasion of Guam, Leyte, le Shima and Okinawa. He belonged to the famed 77th “Liberty” Division, which saw action in some of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific war. He was awarded the Silver Combat Infantryman Badge, and also the Bronze Star for being the most aggressive scout in his regiment. Private Burleson attended Monroe County High School, where he played on the football team for three years. He was a member of the First Baptist Church and the Boy Scouts of America. His father, John R. Burleson, died last February. Pfc. John B. Burleson died of wounds on Okinawa Island May 8, 1945.
He is buried at Madisonville Cemetery in Madisonville, Tennessee.
Pfc. John B. Burleson buried here Sunday
Funeral services for Pfc. John Brient Burleson, 25, son of the late John R. Burleson, Jr. and Mrs. Myrtle Burleson, were held Sunday afternoon at First Baptist Church, Rev. Creed McCoy of Knoxville and the pastor, Rev. C.J. Veatch officiating. Burial was in City Cemetery.
Survivors include his mother, one brother, Robert T., his grandmother, Mrs. T.A. Nelson of Philadelphia.
The body arrived in Madisonville at 310 P.M. Friday and was taken to the home of his mother. The V.F.W. Post had charge of the service at the grave.
Pallbearers were Alfred Mason, Jr., Charles Greenwood, James Witt, Hugh McMurray, J.R. Lewis, Ross White, Ernest Houser of Sweetwater and Jack Peace. The firing squad was composed of Ben Frank Sands, C.S. Sands, Dock Akins, George Sharpe and Carl Robinson, with Malcolm Henry in charge. Taps was blown by a T.M.I, student. The military escort who came with the body from Atlanta was Cpl. Robert McCormic of near Charlotte, NC.
Flower girls were members of Mrs. Burleson’s Sunday School Class. Among those from out of town who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Burleson, Mr. and Mrs. John H. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. T.O. Burleson, Mrs. Jim Ferguson, Mr. and Mrs. N.E. Burleson, Jr., Miss Carrie Margaret Burleson, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Rudder, Mr. Kenneth Rudder, Mr. and Mrs. John Burleson, Mr. Tom Burleson, Mr. Arrie Burleson, Rev. and Mrs. C.S. McCoy, Miss DeLois Hicks, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Berry, Mr. and Mrs. W.K. Burleson, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Tallent, Bill Brakebill and Miss Nancy Jon Sloan all of Knoxville, Mrs. T. A. Nelson, Mrs. Earl Mills, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Laudermilk, Rev. And Mrs. Tillery, Mr. and Mrs. Rich Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Band Reed, Philadelphia, Mr. and Mrs. Venas Brown, Mrs. Reed Humphreys and Mrs. Clara Humphreys Moles, Tellico Plains, Mr. Ernest Houser, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Sands and Mr. and Mrs. Anderson Godsey, Sweetwater, Mrs. Frances Morgan Boyd, Oak Ridge, Mrs. Charles Seaton, Miss Wilda Seaton and Albert Griffith, Maryville. Mr. and Mrs. C.S. Brown, Etowah, Miss Lorraine Worley, Chattanooga, Miss Ruth E. Williams, Vonore.
- Rank: Private First Class
- Date of birth: 23 November 1920
- Date of death: 8 May 1945
- County: Monroe
- Hometown: Madisonville
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 77th Division
- Theater: Pacific
- Conflict: World War II
- Battles: Okinawa
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Madisonville Cemetery, Madisonville, Monroe County, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XVI, Top Panel
- Contact us to sponsor John B. Burleson
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