More detail on this person: ALLEN MITCHELL
BURDETT, JR., was "to the Army" born on 25
August 1921, in Washington, DC. The military ran
deep in the blood of his ancestors; they fought in
every American conflict since the Revolutionary
War. His father, a highly respected military
judge, became the Army's senior JAG colonel.
As a Boy Scout at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Allen
began his lifelong friendship with a future USMA
classmate, Arch Hamblen. Upon graduation from
Western High School in Washington, DC, in 1939,
he was appointed to USMA by Senator Richard
Russell of Georgia. West Point was a challenge, a
joy, and the beginning of lifetime friendships. He
was commissioned in the Infantry and he and Arch
continued a close association throughout several
assignments, both overseas and Stateside.
Following the Basic Infantry Course at Fort
Benning, Georgia, he joined the newly activated
63rd "Blood and Fire" Infantry Division, Camp Van
Dorn, Mississippi. During World War II, Allen
commanded a rifle company in the European
Theater. His chaplain at that time, Raphael
Miller, described Allen's openness and
friendliness as evidence of genuine concern and
affection for people. He had a deep personal faith
and a great reliance on prayer. He stayed on in
Germany after the war ended, serving in the
operations section of Seventh and Third Armies and
with the U.S. Constabulary before returning to the
States in 1947.
On 19 April 1948, Allen and Antoinette Salley were
married in Asheville, North Carolina. After three
years as Assistant PMS&T at Georgia Tech, he
attended Infantry School at Fort Benning in 1950
and stayed to serve with the 508th Airborne
Regimental Combat Team. In 1953 he graduated
from the Command and General Staff College.
Allen was next assigned to Korea, where he served
as a battalion commander in the 31st Infantry
Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Returning
Stateside, he completed the Armed Forces Staff
College before assuming duties as the first Army
representative to the newly established Air Force
Academy, then in Denver.
On graduation from the Army War College and the
Army Aviation School, he was posted to the staff
of the Aviation School at Fort Rucker, Alabama,
from 1960-62. From 1962-65 he served as executive
officer to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for
Research and Development in Washington.
In 1965 he joined the 11th Air Assault Division at
Fort Benning, which was reorganized into the 1st
Cavalry Division (Airmobile) and deployed to
Vietnam. He commanded the Division's 11th
Aviation Group for almost a year before returning
to Washington in 1966 to become military assistant
to the Deputy Director of Defense Research and
Engineering (Tactical Warfare Programs). In 1966
he was promoted to brigadier general. During this
period he received a master's degree in
International Affairs from George Washington
University.
In 1968, Allen returned to Viemam as an assistant
division commander of the 101st Airborne Division
and in 1969 commanded the 1st Aviation Brigade
there. General Mel Zais, Commander of the 101st
Airborne Division, wrote, "I know I can rely on
him to complete the toughest mission and achieve
perfection."
His next assignment took him back to Washington
in 1970 as Director of Army Aviation, until later
that year when he was selected to command the
Army Aviation Center. Fort Rucker Chaplain Burton
Hatch, in a prayer at Allen's funeral, gave thanks
for his faithfulness to his Lord, his family, and
his country; for his gracious manner and his firm
handshake that brought encouragement and
inspiration to all who knew him. At his induction
into the Army Aviation Hall of Fame in 1980, Allen
was cited as having greatly enhanced the role of
Army Aviation on the modern battlefield.
In 1973, Allen was promoted to lieutenant general
and assumed command of III Corps and Fort Hood,
Texas. In 1975 he took command of the Fifth U.S.
Army, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and commanded
until his retirement in June 1978, after 35 years
of active military service. Dr. Duncan Stewart,
Fifth Army Chaplain and pastor of Covenant
Presbyterian Church, spoke of the sad impact of
Allen's death on the church and the city of which
he was a part.
Allen and Antoinette retired in San Antonio, where
he continued on the Board of Directors of USAA. At
the age of 58, he died of cancer on 8 July 1980
after a two-month illness. He is survived by his
wife Antoinette who lives in Asheville, North
Carolina; his sons, Allen III of Saluda, North
Carolina; William of Tuxedo, North Carolina; and
Douglas of New York City; and seven grandchildren.
His daughter, Margaret Burdett Close, died in a
car accident in 1984.
General Burdett was a longtime member of the
Army-Navy Town Club and the Army-Navy Country
Club; as a member of the Falls Church Presbyterian
Church, Falls Church, Virginia, he served as a
deacon; as a member of the Covenant Presbyterian
Church, San Antonio, he was a ruling elder. He was
also a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. He
had a lifetime interest in Boy Scouts. The
National Boy Scout Court of Honor awarded him the
Silver Beaver, one of scouting's highest awards.
The San Antonio chapter of the American Red
Cross honored him by establishing a volunteer
award in his name.
His military awards included two awards each of
the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, the
Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross,
three Bronze Star awards, 25 Air Medals, the Army
Commendation Medal, the Air Force Commendation
Medal and the Purple Heart. His foreign
decorations included the National Order of Vietnam
Fifth Class and the Republic of Viemam Gallantry
Cross with Palm.
The words honor, courage, integrity, honesty, and
patriotism personify Allen. He was a living
example of DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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