| Arthur W. Burer |
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| Rank, Service |
| Colonel O-6, U.S. Air Force |
| Veteran of: |
U.S. Air Force 1951-1983
Cold War 1951-1983
Vietnam War 1965-1973 (POW)
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| Tribute: |
Arthur Burer was born in 1932 in San Antonio, Texas. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on June 20, 1951, and was trained in aircraft maintenance. Sgt Burer completed Officer Candidate School and was commissioned a 2Lt in the Air Force on September 20, 1957. He next completed Undergraduate Pilot Training and was awarded his pilot wings in November 1958. Over the next several years he served with Air Training Command as a flight instructor and academic instructor at Sheppard and Laredo AFB, Texas. In November 1965, Burer was assigned to the 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Misawa AB, Japan, flying RF-101 Voodoos. He soon began flying combat missions over Southeast Asia, and he was forced to eject over enemy territory on March 21, 1966. Captain Burer was immediately captured and taken as a Prisoner of War. After spending 2,520 days in captivity, Major Burer was released during Operation Homecoming on February 12, 1973. After hospitalization and aircraft requalification, he went back on flying status where he served as an instructor pilot with the 83rd Flying Training Squadron at Webb AFB, Texas. He next completed studies at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C., before serving with the 3380th Technical Training Group at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Mississippi. His final assignment was as Commander of the 3750th Air Base Group at Sheppard AFB, Texas, from February 1982 until he retired from the Air Force on September 1, 1983.
His Silver Star Citation reads:
For the Period October 1966. This officer distinguished himself by gallantry and intrepidity in action in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force during the above period while a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. Ignoring international agreements on treatment of prisoners of war, the enemy resorted to mental and physical cruelties to obtain information, confessions, and propaganda materials. This individual resisted their demands by calling upon his deepest inner strengths in a manner which reflected his devotion to duty and great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force. |
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