CAMP RED CLOUD, South Korea - Charles R. Burnham served in the Army from Feb. 8, 1951, to Nov. 8, 1952, as a private first class technical infantryman in Company B, 9th Infantry Regiment (Manchu), 2nd Infantry Division.
He was born Nov. 7, 1927, in Canada. He grew up on a farm and continued farming until he enlisted in the Army. While married to Rosemary Burnham, they had five children, one son and four daughters.
One of Burnham’s daughters, Diane Ramsey from Adams, N.Y., has a son, Staff Sgt. Corey G. Brimmer, who is serving as a human resources specialist in Headquarters Support Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, currently serving in the 2nd Infantry Division. Brimmer initially enlisted in the Army April 3, 2002, as a cavalry scout before becoming a human resources specialist in 2009.
“I knew very little about my grandfather’s career, only that he was in the Korean War,” said Brimmer. “My grandfather being in the Army was only part of the reason I wanted to be in the Army, I have always felt the Army was my calling.”
The Korean War veteran, Burnham had a very different service experience in the Land of the Morning Calm.
Three months after arriving to Korea, Burnham sustained injuries from two different shrapnel wounds. He was wounded for the third time Sept. 19, 1951, when he was shot in his leg.
"I was willing to sacrifice my life and lend a hand to people I didn’t even know,” Burnham said. “I’m proud to this day of the relationship between the U.S. and Republic of Korea, which has strengthened and will continue to be a strong force."
Burnham was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with one Bronze star and the Purple Heart.
Like his grandfather, Brimmer has deployed. He served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom twice, 2003-2004 and 2006-2007, and once in Operation Enduring Freedom 2010.
“I requested to come to Korea to be able to visualize what hardships [my grandfather] had to overcome like weather and terrain in comparison to my past combat experiences,” said Brimmer. “I feel connected with him by just being in the same area he fought.”
Generations fighting in the same area symbolizes our evolving mission to fight tonight along with our Alliance.
Date Taken: | 07.18.2013 |
Date Posted: | 07.23.2013 21:29 |
Story ID: | 110674 |
Location: | CAMP RED CLOUD, BUSAN GWANG'YEOGSI [PUSAN-KWANGYOKSHI], KR |
Hometown: | ADAMS, NEW YORK, US |
Web Views: | 61 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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