Romus Burgin
Encyclopedia
Romus Valton Burgin is a former U.S. Marine and American author.
Born to Joseph Harmon Burgin and Beulah May (née
Perry) Burgin in Jewett, Texas
.
During World War II
, Burgin joined the United States Marine Corps
on 13 November 1942, and was assigned to the 9th Replacement Battalion. He then became a mortar-man
in K-Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (K-3-5), and fought in the Pacific War
at Cape Gloucester
, then alongside his friend, Eugene Sledge
, on Peleliu
, and Okinawa. Burgin was promoted to the rank of sergeant after Peleliu.
He is the author of the memoir Islands of the Damned. He was awarded a Bronze Star for his actions in the Battle of Okinawa
on 2 May 1945, when he destroyed a Japanese Machine Gun emplacement that had his company pinned down. He also was going to be awarded a silver star but the person who was recommending him died before he could send it in. He was wounded on 20 May, and received a Purple Heart
. He returned to his company after spending 20 days in a field hospital and remained with them for the duration of the battle.
He is portrayed in the HBO miniseries The Pacific by Martin McCann
.
Born to Joseph Harmon Burgin and Beulah May (née
Married and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Perry) Burgin in Jewett, Texas
Jewett, Texas
Jewett is a city in Leon County, Texas, United States. The population was 861 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Jewett is located at ....
.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Burgin joined the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
on 13 November 1942, and was assigned to the 9th Replacement Battalion. He then became a mortar-man
Mortar (weapon)
A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
in K-Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (K-3-5), and fought in the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
at Cape Gloucester
Cape Gloucester
Cape Gloucester is a headland, in the northwest of the island of New Britain, Papua New Guinea, at . During World War II, the Japanese captured New Britain, and had driven most of Cape Gloucester's native population out to construct two airfields...
, then alongside his friend, Eugene Sledge
Eugene Sledge
Eugene Bondurant Sledge was a United States Marine, university professor, and author. His 1981 memoir With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa chronicled his combat experiences during World War II and was subsequently used as source material for Ken Burns's PBS documentary, The War, as well as...
, on Peleliu
Peleliu
Peleliu is an island in the island nation of Palau. Peleliu forms, along with two small islands to its northeast, one of the sixteen states of Palau. It is located northeast of Angaur and southwest of Koror....
, and Okinawa. Burgin was promoted to the rank of sergeant after Peleliu.
He is the author of the memoir Islands of the Damned. He was awarded a Bronze Star for his actions in the Battle of Okinawa
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945...
on 2 May 1945, when he destroyed a Japanese Machine Gun emplacement that had his company pinned down. He also was going to be awarded a silver star but the person who was recommending him died before he could send it in. He was wounded on 20 May, and received a Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
. He returned to his company after spending 20 days in a field hospital and remained with them for the duration of the battle.
He is portrayed in the HBO miniseries The Pacific by Martin McCann
Martin McCann (actor)
-Biography:McCann born to Anne McCann, he grew up with a brother and sister in the working-class Divis Flats area of Falls Road in Belfast.He credits his mother with helping him with his success...
.