"In the cyclic turn-of-events, the highs, the lows, the successes, the failures, I would opt to conclude that the survival - the achievement of the goal: a military career as a professional soldier - was the ultimate high."



Colonel Burks' inspiration for this book can be credited to his fellow soldiers, our nation's many great and good leaders, and the system that prevails. He dedicates this effort, therefore, to those equally dedicated but goal-denied peers, who fell in WWII, in Korea, between the Wars, and in Vietnam.

Born: January 27, 1923 in Tulsa Oklahoma



Graduate: Wynnewood, Oklahoma. High School (1940), United States Army Air Force Gunnery School, University of Maryland, U.S. Army Officer Candidate School, Fort Riley, Kansas (1949), U.S.Army Field Artillery School-Basic and Advanced Courses, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas., U.S.Army Language School, Department of Defense Strategic Intelligence School, Department of Defense Logistics Management Course, Department of Defense Management School, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.



Completed combat tours in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Peacetime overseas service included tours in Germany -1954-57 as commander of intelligence operations along the Czech/West German border; Korea, 1964-65 as Chief of Operations, G-2 Eighth U.S.Army. Assigned to the Army General Staff, Pentagon 1959-61; transferred to Department of Defense National Military System Support Center, Pentagon 1962-63. Assigned to U.S.Army Inspector General Staff 1965-67. Commanded 6th Battalion, 8th Artillery (175 Gun.)



Major career awards and decorations included: Legion of Merit (3 awards), Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal (11 awards), Department of Defense Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3 awards), Vietnamese Honor Medal, 12 battle stars for four campaigns in each war. Upon retirement, The Oklahoma Distinguished Service Medal.