Petty
Officer 3rd Class Edward Roy Burton
Petty
Officer 3rd Class Edward Roy Burton was 16 years old when
he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. At that time in 1943, his mother had to
sign papers in order for him to join the Navy. He was born in
Watonga
,
OK
around or about 1926. His parents were Freeman and Dorothy Burton.
When the family moved to
El Reno
,
OK
he attended Booker T. Washington School. During WWII, he was assigned
to the USS Pringle, served 1-1/2 years as a Steward’s Mate. On April
16, 1945, a bomb dropped by a Japan Suicide plane (Kamikaze) sunk his
ship near
Okinawa
,
Japan
. As told by his sister, Parthenia Burton-Lewis, when the ship was
hit, he dived into the waters several times, and was advantageous in
saving several of his fellow shipmates, he dived in one more time, and
never came back up alive. He was awarded a purple heart for his
efforts. PO3 Burton was also the first Black military person from
El Reno
to be killed in WWII.
In
November, 1945 in his honor, the name of
Dunbar
Park
located in the Northwest community, was changed from to
Burton
Park
. Mr. Barbour an El Reno Lawyer, was influential in executing this
action.
