Lance Corporal William Paul Burgoon: A life of duty and sacrifice
Lance Corporal William Paul Burgoon answered a call that required more than ordinary courage. Born into a life of everyday hopes and plans, he chose the United States Marine Corps and embraced the values of honor, courage, and commitment. Assigned as a rifleman with C Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines of the 3rd Marine Division, Burgoon shipped overseas and began his tour of duty in Vietnam on August 17, 1967.
His unit operated in Quang Tri Province, a region of Vietnam that lay close to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating North and South Vietnam. The area was known for terrain that aided the enemy—dense jungle, steep hills, and rivers that complicated movement and supply. In that environment, Marines conducted search-and-destroy missions, reconnaissance patrols, and defensive operations intended to deny enemy forces sanctuary.
What a rifleman’s duty required
As a rifleman, Burgoon held a role central to the survival of his squad. Responsibilities included:
- Engaging the enemy at close quarters and delivering suppressive fire when needed.
- Providing security on patrols and setting up defensive positions during operations.
- Maintaining weapons, coordinating with fellow Marines, and executing orders under extreme stress.
Life in the field was physically and mentally demanding. Heat, humidity, and monsoon rains were constant adversaries. Supplies were often limited, sleep was scarce, and the threat of ambush, mines, and booby traps was ever-present. In such conditions, training, discipline, and mutual trust were the measures that kept men alive.
The threat in Quang Tri Province
Quang Tri Province was among the most fiercely contested areas in South Vietnam. Its proximity to the DMZ made it strategically important and a frequent target for North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong activity. Enemy forces used guerrilla tactics, improvised explosive devices, and well-prepared ambush sites, exploiting the natural cover of the jungle to evade larger conventional forces.
Search-and-destroy missions, of which Burgoon’s unit was a part, required small units to locate enemy concentrations, engage them, and then withdraw. These missions placed Marines in unpredictable situations where a single misstep could have fatal consequences. Every patrol and operation tested not only fighting skill but endurance, situational awareness, and the bonds forged between Marines.
Loss and legacy
On January 19, 1968, while engaged in combat operations in Quang Tri Province, Lance Corporal William Paul Burgoon was killed by an enemy explosive device. He was 21 years old. His death occurred in the field, in the same harsh conditions that had defined his service, and came just days before the Tet Offensive—a coordinated series of attacks that marked a pivotal phase in the war.
“He gave the last full measure of devotion—service defined by sacrifice and brotherhood.”
Burgoon fell alongside fellow Marines who shared the burden of war and the unbreakable bonds of unit cohesion. His sacrifice is a reminder of the individual human cost behind large historical events. For every strategic movement, every named operation, and every reported statistic, there are personal stories of young service members who answered their nation’s call.
Remembering service beyond headlines
Remembering Lance Corporal Burgoon means acknowledging both the conditions he faced and the character he showed. It means honoring:
- The discipline and training that prepared Marines for the worst circumstances.
- The courage required to act for the safety of others while under mortal threat.
- The bonds of brotherhood that sustained units in the field and that endure through remembrance.
Commemoration takes many forms: memorials, unit remembrances, and personal family memorials. Each is a way to ensure that names like William Paul Burgoon do not fade into the anonymity of history. They are reminders to future generations of the sacrifices made and the responsibilities that accompany military service.
Final reflection
Lance Corporal William Paul Burgoon’s story is one of service lived fully and sacrificed early. It is neither an abstract tale nor a simple footnote: it is the life of a young man who carried out his duty under the most difficult circumstances and paid the ultimate price. Reflecting on his service invites a sober appreciation for those who serve, a careful remembrance of the costs of conflict, and a respect for the men and women who stand in harm’s way in defense of others.
To honor Burgoon and Marines like him is to keep their stories alive, to learn from the past, and to recognize the human faces behind historical events. Their legacy is a call to remember, understand, and never take for granted the freedoms secured at such great cost.
