From: DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL FIGHTING SHIPS, James L. 
Mooney, ed., Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy, 
Washington, DC., 1991

Arleigh Albert Burke-born on 19 October 1901 in Boulder, Colo. 
entered the Naval Academy on 26 June 1919 and graduated  on 7 
June 1923. Joining the battleship Arizona (BB-39) soon 
thereafter, he began his naval career as a junior watch and 
division  officer, and was given command of Arizona's turret 4. 
Over the next few years, he served as that battleship's torpedo 
officer, assistant engineer, and ship's secretary. During this 
time, he developed an interest in gunnery, and qualified as head 
of the ship's plotting room, handling range direction for the 
battleship's gunnery exercises. In the spring of 1927, Burke 
spent a month at the Ford Instrument Co. facility in New York 
City, studying that company's new antiaircraft director.

His initial bid for post-graduate work having been denied, Burke 
instead received orders on 2 April 1928 to the auxiliary vessel 
PROCYON (AG-II), the flagship of Rear Admiral W. W Phelps, 
Commander, Fleet Base Force. After serving as assistant  
navigator and ship's secretary, Burke became Admiral Phelps' 
flag lieutenant and force personnel officer in June 1928. In 
October of the same year, the Bureau of Navigation approved 
Burke's second request for post-graduate work, and on 17 June 
1929, he reported to the Post-Graduate School at the Naval 
Academy  to commence 15 months of rigorous course work first at 
Annapolis and, later, at Ann Arbor, Mich.

This intensive instruction in ordnance design, fire control, and 
ballistics culminated in his receiving an M. S. degree from the 
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor on 22 June 1931. He then 
spent a year in visits to the major private plants and military 
installations involved in developing, producing, and storing 
explosives.  In the spring of 1932, Burke received orders to the 
heavy cruiser CHESTER (CA-27), and he remained in that ship for 
almost a year, serving as main battery officer. Ordered to the 
Base Force staff in April 1933 as assistant officer-in-charge of 
the Battle Force Camera Party, Burke worked in developing and 
using photographic equipment to "triangulate, tabulate, and 
analyze' the fall of shot in gunnery exercises-duty which 
required "meticulous accuracy and long days in preparation." For 
two years, Burke served with the Battle Force Camera Party, 
until he received orders to the Bureau of Ordnance (BuOrd) in 
Washington, D. C.

Burke labored next in BuOrd's ammunition and explosives section, 
given the prime responsibility dealing with the purchase, 
storage, and distribution of ammunition charges acquired by the 
Navy. He also worked in the area of distributing ammunition for 
target practice, the design of a new storage area for high 
explosive  ammunition, and research toward developing a more 
stable smokeless powder for use on board ships. The Chief of 
BuOrd, Rear Admiral Harold R. Stark, lauded the young officer's 
"keen grasp of ordnance in relation to the service," and foresaw 
his becoming "an officer of exceptional value to the service. "

In May 1937, Burke became the prospective executive officer of 
the recently launched destroyer Craven (DD-382). He served in 
that new destroyer until June 1939, exhibiting considerable 
administrative talent in the fields of discipline and material- 
invaluable experience in handling small warships. Promoted to 
lieutenant commander in August 1938, while in Craven, Burke 
received his first sea command the following summer. On 5 June 
1939, he assumed command of MUGFORD (DD-389), the flagship for 
Destroyer Division (DesDiv) 8, Destroyer Squadron (DesRon) 4, 
Battle Force. Under his leadership, Mugford won the Destroyer 
Gunner Trophy for 1939-1940, finished third in engineering, and 
high in communications.

Relieved on 30 July 1940, Burke returned to Washington to serve 
as an inspector at the Naval Gun Factory. He worked devotedly in 
this important shore billet, but, following American entry into 
World War 11 in December 1941, incessantly sought to return to 
sea. Finally, late in 1942, orders sent him to the South 
Pacific. After commanding in turn DesDiv 43, DesDiv 44, and 
DesRon 12, Burke received command of DesRon 23.

Burke soon emerged as a combat leader, earning the Navy Cross 
for leading the "Little Beavers," as DesRon 23 came to be 
called, in the first bombardment of the Buka-Bonis area and the 
first daylight bombardment of Japanese positions in the 
Shortlands.  During the night of 1 and 2 November 1943, as 
American force under Rear Admiral A. S. Merrill-of which DesRon 
23 formed a part-met a more powerful Japanese unit, and defeated  
it decisively in the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay.

The "Little Beavers" also earned the Presidential Unit Citation  
under Burke's leadership, and their commodore earned the 
Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) for his "indomitable fighting 
spirit and great personal courage." DesRon 23 daringly defied 
Japanese aircraft and closed strongly fortified shores to 
deliver sustained shellings of Japanese coastal defenses and 
cover amphibious  assaults. Burke later earned the Legion of 
Merit for his leadership of DesRon 23 in battle off Kavieng, New 
Ireland, and Duke of York Island on 17 and 23 February 1944. The 
ships of his squadron destroyed two Japanese auxiliary vessels, 
one large cargo ship, a minelayer, and four barges in addition 
to inflicting severe damage on enemy shore installations. DesRon 
23 effected a skillful withdrawal without damage.

Having earned the nickname "31-knot Burke" for his highspeed 
combat  performance, he soon became chief of staff to Vice 
Admiral Marc A. Mitscher, Commander, Fast Carrier Task Force, TF 
58, in March 1944. He remained as Admiral Mitscher's chief of 
staff into June 1945; during this time, he received  promotion 
to commodore. Burke planned and executed a long series of 
offensive operations in the reduction of the perimeter of  
Japanese defenses in New Guinea, the Carolines, the Marianas, 
Halmahera and Philippine Islands; his "superb professional 
skill, tireless energy, and coolness of decision" in that work 
earned him his second Legion of Merit. He then received his 
second DSM for his efficient control of the tactical 
disposition, the operation, the security and the explosive 
offensive power of TF 58 in its support of the landings at Iwo 
Jima and Okinawa and carrier air strikes on the Japanese 
homeland.

On 11 May 1945, two suicide planes crashed Admiral Mitscher's 
flagship, BUNKER HILL (CV-17). Burke unhesitatingly proceeded to 
a compartment in which men were trapped, and despite fire and 
heavy smoke, succeeded in evacuating the sailors there. He 
received a letter of commendation for his courage and prompt and 
efficient action "with utter disregard for his or personal 
safety ... " in rescuing the men. Three days later, after 
Admiral Mitscher had transferred his flag to the famed carrier 
ENTERPRISE (CV-6) on 14 May, a kamikaze crashed that ship; Burke 
again arranged for the transfer of command, and "in spite of all  
difficulties ... maintained tactical control of the Task Force 
..."  For his conspicuous gallantry on both occasions, on 11 and 
14 May, Burke was awarded the Silver Star.

In July 1945, Burke returned to Washington and served as BuOrd's 
Director of Research and Development, before he went to the 
Mediterranean in January 1946, as the chief of staff to Vice 
Admiral Mitscher, Commander, 8th Fleet. He served in that 
capacity until March 1946, when Mitscher (promoted to admiral) 
was given command of the Atlantic Fleet. Burke  remained with 
that great carrier leader in the same capacity until Mitscher's 
death in February 1947.

Following service on the General Board, Burke took command of 
the light cruiser HUNTINGTON (CL-107); but soon returned to 
shore duty to head the new Organizational Research and Policy 
Division (OP 23) under the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), 
established to advise CNO during efforts to implement the 
National Security Act of 1947. During this time, he coordinated 
the Navy's defense in the B-36 controversy in 1949. He then 
served as Navy Secretary on the Defense Research and  
Development Board.

After the Korean War broke out in June 1950, Burke became deputy 
chief of staff to Commander, Naval Forces, Far East, that 
September, bringing to the task a "sound knowledge of naval 
administration and professional skill" that aided in the 
reorganization of the staff to meet ever-increasing  
responsibilities in the Korean War. He received a third Legion 
of  Merit for his service in that capacity.

In May 1951, Burke was given command of Cruiser Division 
(CruDiv) 5 off the coast of Korea, but only served in the post 
until July, at which time he joined the United Nations 
delegation to the truce talks in Korea. From 9 July to 5 
December 1951, Burke's keen discernment and decisive judgment 
proved of inestimable value in "countering enemy intransigence,  
misrepresentation and evasion with reasoned negotiation, 
demonstrable truth, and conciliatory measures. " As advisor to 
the chief  delegate on all phases of the armistice talks, Burke 
offered "timely recommendations for solutions to the varied 
intricate problems encountered" by the negotiators; his services 
in that capacity earned Burke an Oak Leaf cluster from the Army 
in lieu of a fourth Legion of Merit.

Early in December 1951, Burke returned to Washington to head 
CNO's Strategic Plans Division. Command of CruDiv 6 in the 
Mediterranean and the position of Commander, Destroyer Force, 
Atlantic Fleet, followed in turn before President Dwight D. 
Eisenhower selected Burke as CNO, promoting him over 92 more 
senior flag officers. Serving in that office from 17 August 1955 
to 1 August 1961, he is the only officer to hold that post 
through three two-year terms. During Burke's tenure as CNO, he 
acted as a major force in developing the Navy's "Polaris" 
submarine missile program and keeping it under that service's 
control, and utilized the FORRESTAL (CV-59)-class aircraft 
carriers in the nuclear deterrence role.

On I August 1961, Burke retired from the Navy. Since then, he 
has resided in Washington, D. C., devoting art of his time to 
advisory committees and boards of directors of such worthwhile -
activities as veterans organizations, patriotic groups and  
educational institutions, as well as to the Navy he had served 
so well.

Transcribed and edited by:
Larry W. Jewell
jewell@mace.cc.purdue.edu