Robert F. Burns

Robert F. Burns was a typical member of the "greatest generation" in that he rarely offered information about his service during World War II. When he did talk about the war, he tended to focus on humorous incidents such as while preparing to land on Utah Beach he fell off the transport ship onto the landing craft. His reticence in discussing the war seemed a bit unusual because, after being discharged from active duty, he stayed in the Army Reserves until 1974 when he retired as Commandant of General Staff College in Chicago with the rank of Colonel. He taught tactics at General Staff College in Chicago one evening each week and spent two weeks each summer at an army base taking or teaching courses. Towards the end of his life he had become interested in revisiting Normandy and planned a trip to France with my sister. Unfortunately, he became too ill with cancer to take the trip. He died in 1999.

War Letters Located. Before his older sister Grace died in 2001, we had many conversations with her about the family. Aunt Grace had a sharp memory into her 90s (she died at 93) and she served as that generation's family historian. During her last years, we discovered a treasure trove of his war letters and some photos in her basement, which we rescued during a basement flood. We added the letters to the voluminous records of his service in the Army and Reserves we had already consolidated after his death.

Personal History. Robert F. Burns was the youngest of the four surviving children of John M. and Eva Burns (nee Tillotson). Robert was born in Chicago on March 11, 1914. He attended St. Mel Grade School and Austin High School, from which he graduated in 1932. He attended the University of Illinois and received his Bachelor's in Fine Arts (major in painting) in 1936. He moved to San Francisco and worked for an ad agency for a few months writing copy and designing ads. In 1937 he took a position at the Museum of Art. where he worked at the Information Desk, prepared exhibits, and gave tours to the public. He was called to active duty in San Francisco on February 5, 1941. Please see Military Career for further information on his army career.

After the War. After being discharged at Camp Grant, Illinois on June 3, 1946, he returned to Paris to marry Paulette Henriette Lequien on June 19, 1946. They had met during his time in Paris in late 1945. They returned to the United States in 1947 and lived initially with his parents in the family home on the West Side of Chicago. Their three children were joined by Paulette's mother, Elise Marie Dorpsmans, and Paulette's daughter, Marie-Paulette Lequien, both of whom emmigrated from France in 1950 after appropriate papers were obtained. Robert worked for many years at the Chicago School of Watchmaking as Advertising Manager. Paulette became ill with cancer in 1980 and battled the disease until her death in 1995. Robert died of colon cancer in 1999 at age 85.

For more information on the entire Burns family, please visit my brother Philip's extensive genealogical site at www.pibburns.com.