World War II Honoree

Burton E. Weed

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Woodbury, New Jersey

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

ON DECEMBER 31, 1943, A MONTH AFTER HIS 18TH BIRTHDAY, HE JOINED THE NAVY. HE TRAINED AT THE FORT PIERCE FLORIDA NAVAL AMPHIBIOUS BASE BEFORE SHIPPING OUT ON THE USS-LSM (R)-188, A ROCKET LAUNCHING LANDING SHIP. IN 1945, A KAMIKAZE DIVE BOMBER STRUCK THE SHIP OFF THE COAST OF OKINAWA, KILLING MORE THAN A DOZEN MEN AND THROWING HIM MORE THAN 30 FEET. HE TOOK SCRAP METAL TO SEVERAL PARTS OF HIS BODY INCLUDING HIS BACK AND HEAD. HE WAS TREATED FOR HIS WOUNDS AND WAS SENT BACK ABOARD THE USS BURLESON, WHICH WAS INVOLVED IN NUCLEAR TESTING OFF OF BIKINI ATOLL. HE WAS LATER AWARDED A PURPLE HEART.