Ernest Hill Burt (1892-1984)
From Biographical Wiki
| Ernest Hill Burt | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born: | 29 Jun 1892 New Haven, Connecticut |
| Died: | 26 Feb 1984 Arlington, Virginia |
| Father: | Edward Samuel Burt |
| Mother: | Susan Hayes Forbes |
| Siblings: | Lester Albert Burt Ernest Hill Burt Edward Forbes Burt |
| Spouse: | Lela Julia Mead |
| Married: | 12 Apr 1917 Harbor Springs, Michigan |
| Children: | Elizabeth Burt Ernest Hill Burt, Jr. Margery Burt Edward Mead Burt |
| Spouse: | Barbara Cooper |
| Married: | 1969 Surrey, England |
| Children: | Russell Coy-Burt |
[edit] Obituary
Petoskey News-Review, Thursday, 1 Mar 1984:
Funeral services for retired Brig. Gen. Ernest Burt, 91, whose Army Career spanned more than 30 years, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 3, at the Schiller-Gillian Funeral Home in Harbor Springs.
Gen. Burt was the author of the Code of Military Justice. The completion of that assignment was instrumental in his receiving the appointment of brigadier general in 1942.
Gen. Burt was born June 29, 1892 in New Haven, Conn. He attended Michigan State University (MSU) then Michigan Agricultural College from 1910-14, graduating with a bachelor's degree in forestry. He then attended Yale Law School, receiving a bachelor of law degree in 1917. In 1939 he received his master's degree in law from George Washington University.
Gen. Burt's long military career began while at MSU where he became adjutant of the Reserve Officer's Training Corps (ROTC) unit. While at Yale, he helped organize the Yale Batteries of which he became first lieutenant of artillery. This unit was assigned to protect the Mexican border.
Because of this experience, Burt was offered a commission as second lieutenant of infantry by the War Department just prior to the United States entry into World War I.
Gen. Burt's first assignment as a lieutenant was with the 14th Infantry, assigned to protect shipbuilding and aircraft supply facilities in Washington state. Then-2nd Lt. Omar Bradley was also a member of the unit. From this association, they became lifelong friends.
In 1917, he married the former Lela Julia Mead in Harbor Springs, where he had vacationed often.
Following duty on the West Coast, the 14th Infantry was transferred to posts in the Midwest and, at war's end, to the Panama Canal zone. Capt. Burt, then adjutant of the 14th Infantry, helped establish Ft. Davis in the canal zone.
After three years at that post, Burt served as a law professor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., for three years.
He then was assigned to the Judge Advocate General's Department in Washington, D.C., and later was sent to the Command and General Staff School in Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., graduating in 1931. He also served as Judge Advocate for the Seventh Army Corps Area in Omaha, Neb.
Following graduation from George Washington University and the Army War College, he was selected by the Judge Advocate General to become Gen. George Marshall's legal officer. He also served as legislative officer, in charge of all proposed Congressional legislation dealing with the Army.
Just before the United States entry into World War II, he volunteered to serve on Gen. Douglas MacArthur's staff in the Philippines. When the war began, he made his way to Australia and in the following months set up a Judge Advocate's department in the Far East. Appointed brigadier general in 1942, he became Assistant Judge Advocate General of the Army in charge of military justice in the Pacific Theatre. In 1946, he was admitted to the Supreme Court of the Philippines.
After the war, the Burts traveled for 18 years to various parts of the world. Mrs. Burt preceded her husband in death in 1968.
In 1969 he married Barbara Cooper-Coy in Surrey, England. They have lived in Harbor Springs since then.
Gen. Burt is survived by his wife; four children, Elizabeth Burt Hyatt of North Haven, Conn., Capt. Ernest Hill Burt, Jr. U.S. Coast Guard (ret.), of Annapolis, Md., Margery Burt McKenney of Winchester, England, and Edward Mead Burt of Grand Rapids; a step-son, flight lieutenant Russell Coy-Burt of Royal Air Force in Cranwell, England; 16 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. Friday, March 2. Rev. James B. Hempstead will officiate at Saturday's service.
Following the service, burial with full military honors under the auspices of Ft. Sheridan Army Base, Ill., will be at Lakeview Cemetery, Harbor Springs.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Michigan Heart Association or the Crooked Tree Arts Council. Envelopes for that purpose will be available at the funeral home.
[edit] Sources
- Marriage: Emmet County, Michigan, Vital Records Search, Marriages:
- Burt, Ernest Hill, Lieut. & Mead, Lela Julia
- Date of Marriage: 4/12/1917
- Liber: 4
- Folio: 20
- Marriage: Michigan Marriages 1868-1925
- Groom's name: Ernest Hill Burt
- Groom's age: 24 years
- Groom's birth year: 1893
- Groom's birthplace: Connecticut
- Bride's name: Lela Julia Mead
- Bride's age: 22 years
- Bride's birth year: 1895
- Bride's birthplace: Michigan
- Marriage date: 12 Apr 1917
- Marriage place: Harbor Springs, Emmet, Michigan
- Groom's father's name: Edw S Burt
- Groom's mother's name: Susan Forbes
- Father of bride's name: Earl H Mead
- Mother of bride's name: Lila Garlick
- Film number: 2342720
- Digital GS number: 4210010
- Image number: 259
- Reference number: v 2 p 99 rn 28
- Collection: Michigan Marriages 1868-1925
- Death: Social Security Death Index:
- Ernest BURT
- Birth Date: 29 Jun 1892
- Death Date: Feb 1984
- Social Security Number: 447-28-7382
- State Where Number Was Issued: Oklahoma
- Death Residence Zip Code: 49740
- Localities:
- Harbor Point, Emmet, Michigan
- Harbor Springs, Emmet, Michigan
- Wequetonsing, Emmet, Michigan
- Burial: Greenwood Cemetery Index, Petoskey, Michigan:
- Burt, Ernest (Brigadier General)
- Age: 91
- Born: 6/29/1892
- Died: 2/26/1984
- Burial: 2/27/1984
- Cemetery: Lakeview, Harbor Springs
- Obituary: on file
- Military: WW2 - US Army
