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SK2c Frank Edmond Jr. Burke
Frank Edmond Burke Jr. was born Dec. 24, 1913 in Humble, Texas, an oil town of about 1,300 residents. He enlisted in the Navy in July 1938 in Houston.
His father and mother, Claudine, divorced just before the boy’s 14th birthday and his father was awarded custody.
When he applied to enlist in the Navy in the spring of 1938 he said he’d completed 11th grade and also that he attended a commercial college for six months until February 1937. He worked as a shipping clerk for six months and served in the Civilian Conservation Corps, a federal Depression-era jobs program for young men. He enlisted on July 12 1938.
Mr. Burke married Elizabeth Jessie Spurlock, a nurse, in October 1939 while his ship, the U.S.S. Arizona, was at her home port at San Pedro, California.
He was a storekeeper and petty officer second class when he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
Sources: the San Pedro (California) News-Pilot; The Daily Sun of Goose Creek, Texas; Census; Navy enlistment records and muster roll; Veterans Administration. This profile was researched and written on behalf of the U.S.S. Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Arizona.
NOTE: If you are a family member related to this crew member of the U.S.S. Arizona, or have additional information, pictures or documents to share about his life or service to our county please contact us through our FAMILY MEMBER SUBMISSION FORM.