b. 1833 Gallaway, Ireland. d. 23/04/1883 Pensacola, Florida.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 10/05/1866 Eastport, Maine.
A native of Gallaway, Ireland, Burke immigrated to the U.S. and joined the Navy from the state of New York on 21 Jan 1862. By May 10, 1866, he was serving as a seaman on the USS De Soto. On that day, while the De Soto was off the coast of Eastport, Maine, he and two shipmates rescued two sailors from the USS Winooski from drowning. For this action, he and his shipmates, Seaman Richard Bates and Captain of the Afterguard John Brown, were awarded the Medal of Honor three months later, on August 1. According to his pension file, he was buried in St Michael’s Church, Pensacola after his death, but this has not been fully determined.
MOH CITATION:
For heroic conduct, with 2 comrades, in rescuing from drowning James Rose and John Russell, seamen, of the U.S.S. Winooski, off Eastport, Maine, 10 May 1866.
BURIAL LOCATION: ST MICHAEL’S CHURCH, PENSACOLA, FLORIDA (BELIEVED TO BE).
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.