Lee in Berkshire County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
James Burt Veterans Memorial Park
Photographed By Michael Herrick, July 2, 2015
1. James Burt Veterans Memorial Park
Inscription.
James Burt Veterans Memorial Park. .
James Burt Veterans Memorial Park In Memory of Those from Lee Who Died During War For Their Country.
World War I 1917 – 1918. James R. Bossidy . John T. Carty . Thomas M. Crerar . Russell R. Griffin . Thomas J. Fanning . Harry F. Gross . Charles T. Noonan . Harold M. Parker . Milton D. Parker . Ivan A. Roberts ,
World War II 1941 – 1946. Eugene Arioli . James Armstrong . Eugene L. Bonafin . Harold M. Bruce . Thomas Burt . Thomas F. Carpenter . Herbert Corey . Harry Corey . Harry Cross . Joseph Davis . Ralph A. Gage . John L. Leahey . Peter McGoldrick . Francis Murray . Aldo Pera . John W. Richmond . Donald L. Turner . Donald Whalen . Victor J. Pezzotini ,
Korean War 1950 – 1955. William Abderhalden . Kenneth Turner ,
Vietnam War 1961 – 1975. James M. Termini . Michael Whalen . Bruce Stevenson . Charles R. Cummings ,
Persian Gulf War 1990 – 1991 We honor the veterans of Lee who served in the Persian Gulf War and are thankful that they returned home safely.
This Memorial Is Dedicated To All Veterans. In All Wars. A Grateful Nation Salutes You.. (left monument)
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress on March 13, 1863, has awarded in the name of the Congress Medal Of Honor to: Captain James M. Burt United States Army President Harry S. Truman presents the Medal of Honor to James M. Burt for his heroic efforts during World War II. Awarded to Captain James M. Burt: Purple Heart with Two Oak Leaf Clusters Bronze Star Medal European-African-Mddle-Eastern Theater Service Medal World War II Victory Medal Participated in Three D-Day Invasions. On 13 October 1944, Captain James M. Burt, United States Army, was in command of Company B, 66th Armored Regiment, 2nd Armored Division, on the western outskirts of Wurselen, Germany. His organization participated in a coordinated infantry-tank attack destined to isolate the large German garrison which was tenaciously defending the city of Aachen. In the first day's action, when infantrymen ran into murderous small-arms and mortar fire, Capt. Burt dismounted from his tank about 200 yards to the rear and moved forward on foot beyond the infantry positions, where, as the enemy concentrated a tremendous volume of fire upon him, he calmly motioned his tanks into good firing positions. As the attack gained momentum, he climbed aboard his tank and directed the action from the rear deck, exposed to hostile volleys which finally wounded him painfully in the face and neck. He maintained his dangerous post despite pointblank self-propelled gunfire until friendly artillery knocked out these enemy weapons, and then proceeded to the advanced infantry scouts' positions to deploy his tanks for the defense of the gains which had been made. The next day, when the enemy counterattacked, he left cover and went 75 yards through heavy fire to assist the infantry battalion commander who was seriously wounded. For the next 8 days, through rainy, miserable weather and under constant, heavy shelling, Capt. Burt held the combined forces together, dominating and controlling the critical situation through the sheer force of his heroic example. On October 15, to direct artillery fire, he took his tank 300 yards into the enemy lines, where he dismounted and remained for one hour giving accurate data to friendly gunners. Twice more that day he went into enemy territory under deadly fire on reconnaissance. In succeeding days he never faltered in his determination to defeat the strong German forces opposing him. Twice the tank in which he was riding was knocked out by enemy action, and each time he climbed aboard another vehicle and continued the fight. He took great risks to rescue wounded comrades and inflicted prodigious destruction on enemy personnel and materiel despite suffering from the wounds he received in the battle's opening phase. Capt. Burt's intrepidity and disregard of personal safety were so complete that his own men and the infantry who attached themselves to him were inspired to overcome the wretched and extremely hazardous conditions which accompanied one of the most bitter local actions of the war. The victory achieved closed the Aachen gap. October 12, 1945 The White House (signed) Harry S. Truman
James Burt
Veterans Memorial Park
In Memory of Those from Lee Who Died During War
For Their Country
World War I
1917 – 1918
James R. Bossidy John T. Carty Thomas M. Crerar Russell R. Griffin Thomas J. Fanning Harry F. Gross Charles T. Noonan Harold M. Parker Milton D. Parker Ivan A. Roberts
World War II
1941 – 1946
Eugene Arioli James Armstrong Eugene L. Bonafin Harold M. Bruce Thomas Burt Thomas F. Carpenter Herbert Corey Harry Corey Harry Cross Joseph Davis Ralph A. Gage John L. Leahey Peter McGoldrick Francis Murray Aldo Pera John W. Richmond Donald L. Turner Donald Whalen Victor J. Pezzotini
Korean War
1950 – 1955
William Abderhalden Kenneth Turner
Vietnam War
1961 – 1975
James M. Termini Michael Whalen Bruce Stevenson Charles R. Cummings
Persian Gulf War
1990 – 1991
We honor the veterans of Lee who served in the Persian Gulf War and are thankful that they returned home safely
This Memorial Is Dedicated To All Veterans. In All Wars.
A Grateful Nation Salutes You.
(left monument)
The
Click or scan to see this page online
President of the United States of America,
authorized by Act of Congress on March 13, 1863, has
awarded in the name of the Congress
Medal Of Honor to:
Captain
James M. Burt
United States Army
President Harry S. Truman presents the
Medal of Honor to
James M. Burt for his heroic efforts during
World War II.
Awarded to Captain James M. Burt:
Purple Heart
with Two Oak Leaf Clusters
Bronze Star Medal
European-African-Mddle-Eastern
Theater Service Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Participated in Three D-Day Invasions
On 13 October 1944, Captain James M. Burt, United States Army, was in command of Company B, 66th Armored Regiment, 2nd Armored Division, on the western outskirts of Wurselen, Germany. His organization participated in a coordinated infantry-tank attack destined to isolate the large German garrison which was tenaciously defending the city of Aachen. In the first day's action, when infantrymen ran into murderous small-arms and mortar fire, Capt. Burt dismounted from his tank about 200 yards to the rear and moved forward on foot beyond the infantry positions, where, as the enemy concentrated a tremendous volume of fire upon him, he calmly motioned his tanks into good firing positions. As the attack gained momentum, he climbed aboard his tank and directed the action
Photographed By Michael Herrick, July 2, 2015
2. James Burt Veterans Memorial Park
from the rear deck, exposed to hostile volleys which finally wounded him painfully in the face and neck. He maintained his dangerous post despite pointblank self-propelled gunfire until friendly artillery knocked out these enemy weapons, and then proceeded to the advanced infantry scouts' positions to deploy his tanks for the defense of the gains which had been made. The next day, when the enemy counterattacked, he left cover and went 75 yards through heavy fire to assist the infantry battalion commander who was seriously wounded. For the next 8 days, through rainy, miserable weather and under constant, heavy shelling, Capt. Burt held the combined forces together, dominating and controlling the critical situation through the sheer force of his heroic example. On October 15, to direct artillery fire, he took his tank 300 yards into the enemy lines, where he dismounted and remained for one hour giving accurate data to friendly gunners. Twice more that day he went into enemy territory under deadly fire on reconnaissance. In succeeding days he never faltered in his determination to defeat the strong German forces opposing him. Twice the tank in which he was riding was knocked out by enemy action, and each time he climbed aboard another vehicle and continued the fight. He took great risks to rescue wounded comrades and inflicted prodigious destruction on enemy personnel and materiel
Photographed By Michael Herrick, July 2, 2015
3. Monument on the Left
Medal of Honor Citation for Capt. James M. Burt
despite suffering from the wounds he received in the battle's opening phase. Capt. Burt's intrepidity and disregard of personal safety were so complete that his own men and the infantry who attached themselves to him were inspired to overcome the wretched and extremely hazardous conditions which accompanied one of the most bitter local actions of the war. The victory achieved closed the Aachen gap.
October 12, 1945
The White House
(signed) Harry S. Truman
Location. 42° 18.414′ N, 73° 14.996′ W. Marker is in Lee, Massachusetts, in Berkshire County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street (U.S. 20) and Academy Street, on the right when traveling north on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lee MA 01238, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Lee First Town Meeting (within shouting distance of this marker); Lee World War I Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lee (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Antique Shop Building
More about this marker. The park was dedicated October 12, 1998
Also see . . . James M. Burt on Wikipedia. (Submitted on July 5, 2015, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Photographed By Michael Herrick, July 2, 2015
5. World War I Plaque
Photographed By Michael Herrick, July 2, 2015
6. World War II Plaque
Photographed By Michael Herrick, July 2, 2015
7. Korean War Plaque
Photographed By Michael Herrick, July 2, 2015
8. Vietnam War Plaque
Photographed By Michael Herrick, July 2, 2015
9. Persian Gulf War Plaque
Photographed By Michael Herrick, July 2, 2015
10. Dedication Plaque
(monument on the right)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2015, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 444 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on July 5, 2015, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.
