Joseph C. Burger
Encyclopedia
LTG Joseph Charles Burger (1902 – 1982) was a United States Marine Corps
officer and college athlete. He served as the commanding general of Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island during the Ribbon Creek incident
. In college, he played football, basketball, and lacrosse at the University of Maryland
.
, where he played on the football
team as a tackle
, and on the basketball
and lacrosse teams. Burger earned varsity letter
s in football in 1921, 1922, 1923, and 1924, in lacrosse in 1924 and 1925, and basketball in 1924–25. He graduated from Maryland in 1925.
. He played for the Quantico Marines
football team in 1925 and 1926. In 1928, commissioned as a lieutenant, Burger returned to the Quantico Marines to serve as an assistant coach, and coached again in 1931 and 1932.
According to author Keith Fleming in The U.S. Marine Corps in Crisis: Ribbon Creek and Recruit Training, Burger "enjoyed an excellent professional reputation from the very beginning of his Marine Corps service". As a captain, Burger was stationed in China, and his company won the Breckinridge Trophy for the best Marine unit deployed to that country. He later served in World War II
and the Korean War
. During the latter, he was the assistant division commander of the 1st Marine Division toward the end of the war.
Burger attained the rank of major general and took over as the commanding general of Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island in Port Royal, South Carolina
in January 1956. He was the commander during the Ribbon Creek incident
the following month, in which a junior drill instructor
conducted a forced march that resulted in the drowning deaths of six Marine recruits. After the incident, Burger was transferred out of the command "without prejudice".
He later attained the rank of lieutenant general
before retirement. Burger died on February 1, 1982 at the age of 79 and was interred at Arlington National Cemetery
. Burger was inducted in the inaugural class of the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
in 1982.
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...
officer and college athlete. He served as the commanding general of Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island during the Ribbon Creek incident
Ribbon Creek Incident
The Ribbon Creek incident is the most common term for events which occurred on the night of April 8, 1956, when Staff Sergeant Matthew McKeon, a junior drill instructor at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, marched his assigned platoon into Ribbon Creek, a swampy tidal...
. In college, he played football, basketball, and lacrosse at the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
.
Early life
Burger was born on May 11, 1902. He attended college at the University of MarylandUniversity of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, where he played on the football
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
team as a tackle
Tackle (American football)
Tackle is a playing position in American and Canadian football. Historically, in the one-platoon system a tackle played on both offense and defense. In the modern system of specialized units, offensive tackle and defensive tackle are separate positions....
, and on the basketball
Maryland Terrapins men's basketball
The Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition...
and lacrosse teams. Burger earned varsity letter
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
s in football in 1921, 1922, 1923, and 1924, in lacrosse in 1924 and 1925, and basketball in 1924–25. He graduated from Maryland in 1925.
Military service
After Maryland, Burger served in the United States Marine CorpsUnited 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...
. He played for the Quantico Marines
Marine Corps Base Quantico
Marine Corps Base Quantico, sometimes abbreviated MCB Quantico, is a major United States Marine Corps training base located near Triangle, Virginia, covering nearly in southern Prince William County, northern Stafford County, and southeastern Fauquier County...
football team in 1925 and 1926. In 1928, commissioned as a lieutenant, Burger returned to the Quantico Marines to serve as an assistant coach, and coached again in 1931 and 1932.
According to author Keith Fleming in The U.S. Marine Corps in Crisis: Ribbon Creek and Recruit Training, Burger "enjoyed an excellent professional reputation from the very beginning of his Marine Corps service". As a captain, Burger was stationed in China, and his company won the Breckinridge Trophy for the best Marine unit deployed to that country. He later served in 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...
and the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. During the latter, he was the assistant division commander of the 1st Marine Division toward the end of the war.
Burger attained the rank of major general and took over as the commanding general of Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island in Port Royal, South Carolina
Port Royal, South Carolina
Port Royal is a town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Largely because of annexation of surrounding areas , the population of Port Royal rose from 3,950 in 2000 to 10,678 in 2010, a 170% increase. As defined by the U.S...
in January 1956. He was the commander during the Ribbon Creek incident
Ribbon Creek Incident
The Ribbon Creek incident is the most common term for events which occurred on the night of April 8, 1956, when Staff Sergeant Matthew McKeon, a junior drill instructor at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, marched his assigned platoon into Ribbon Creek, a swampy tidal...
the following month, in which a junior drill instructor
Drill instructor
A drill instructor is a non-commissioned officer or Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in the armed forces or police forces with specific duties that vary by country. In the U.S. armed forces, they are assigned the duty of indoctrinating new recruits entering the military into the customs and...
conducted a forced march that resulted in the drowning deaths of six Marine recruits. After the incident, Burger was transferred out of the command "without prejudice".
He later attained the rank of lieutenant general
Lieutenant General (United States)
In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
before retirement. Burger died on February 1, 1982 at the age of 79 and was interred at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
. Burger was inducted in the inaugural class of the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
The University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1982 by the M Club Foundation to honor student-athletes, coaches, and administrators who made significant contributions to athletics at the University of Maryland...
in 1982.