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PVT  JOE W. BURLESON

FOUR KERN MEN LISTED AS KILLED ON WESTERN FRONT
   Four Kern county soldiers have been killed in action In the European area, according to an announcement today by the war department through Associated Press.
   Listed were Private William A. Roll, Jr., whose mother resides at 1730 Jefferson street, Delano; Private Clyde Spradley, son of Mrs. Corn Spradley of McFarland; Private Joe W. Burleson, son of Mrs. Lairlane Burleson of Buttonwillow, and Private First Class Harold L. Knigge, son of Mrs. Zelina Knigge of Route 1, Arvin.


[The Bakersfield Californian, 25 Jan 1945, Thu, Page 9]


(courtesy of J Vogel)

Grave marker for Pvt Joe W. Burleson in the Fairview Cemetery, Gainesville (Cooke County), Texas.

Although Joe was native to Texas and stated that he was currently residing in his home area of Cooke county, Texas, he enlisted in Fresno, California on March 24,1943. 

It is not known when Joe was assigned to the 508th PIR but based on his enlistment date, he could have been shipped overseas to a replacement depot no later than early 1944. From there he would have been transferred to a line unit.

Pvt. Burleson took part in the invasion of Normandy on D-Day and was killed in action on July 4, 1944.  He was awarded the Purple Heart.