John R. Burkett – Beverly E. Miller Post 77
American Legion Post 77, Houston was originally chartered in 1938 as the John Robbins Burkett American Legion Post 77 in honor of Captain John Robbins Burkett, WWI. Two of the signers of the post charter were E.M. Burkett and Fred Miller. The original post home was located on Kelvin Drive in the Rice Village area of Houston.
The post was re-chartered in 1948 to the John R. Burkett-Beverly E. Miller American Legion Post 77 to further honor Captain John Robbins Burkett (WWI) and 2nd Lieutenant Beverly E. Miller (WWII).
Currently, Post 77 holds their monthly meetings on the 3rd Thursday in the Bayland Community Center, 6400 Bissonnet Street, Houston, Texas 77074. It is located within Harris County Precinct 4 boundaries where we continue uplifting veteran voices, needs, and concerns.
John R. Burkett
Captain John Robbins Burkett was born in in Jackson, Tennessee on September 18, 1891. He entered service in Leon Springs, TX on August 15, 1917. He was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 359 Infantry, 90th Division. He arrived in France on June 20, 1918 and was promoted to Captain on September 29, 1918. He participated in the battle for Saint-Mihiel. While participating in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, Captain Roberts was killed in action (KIA) on November 1, 1918, just ten days before the Armistice was signed on November 11, 1918.
John R. Burkett was the son of John Newton Jones Burkett (1854-1923) and Callie Robbins Burkett (1894-1969).
“On Nov. 1st, near Bautherville in the Meuse-Argonne sector, Captain Burkett led his men over the top and they had reached their objective. He had his Company properly lined up for any counter attack the enemy might throw over and was sitting in a shell hole smoking a cigar when an enemy machine gun bullet hit him just over the left eye killing him instantly.” Corporal Glenn E. O’Brien, Co. C., 309th Infantry
| ★ World War I Victory Medal |  |
| ★ Purple Heart |  |
Captain John Robbins Burkett picture and medals
Beverly E. Miller
Second Lieutenant Beverly E. Miller was a P-47D Thunderbolt pilot attached to the 319th Fighter Squadron, 325th Fighter Group, the Checkertail Clan, 15th Air Force. On January 10, 1944, 2nd Lieutenant Miller was flying fighter escort for bombers targeting Sofia, Bulgaria. He experienced engine trouble with his fighter plane and had to ditch in the Adriatic Sea just off the coast of Yugoslavia. His remains were never recovered – missing in action (MIA). He is listed in the Tablets of the Missing, in the Florence American Cemetery, Via Casa, Florence, Italy. Beverly E. Miller was the son of Fred Miller, charter member of Post 77 and Ida Miller, a past president of Auxiliary Unit 77.
| ★ World War II Victory Medal |  |
| ★ Purple Heart | |
| ★ American Campaign Medal |  |
| ★ Army Presidential Unit Citation |  |
| ★ Army Good Conduct Medal |  |
Sources:
- National Park Service, Washington D.C.
- The National WWI Museum and Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri
- The National WWII Museum, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Honor Roll, 325th Fighter Group, March 1943-October 1946
- Interment.net, Florence American Cemetery, Impruneta, Toscana, Italy
- Find A Grave: John Robbins Burkett and Beverly E. Miller
- A History of the Mediterranean Air War, 1940-1945, Sicily and Italy To The Fall of Rome, 14 May, 1943, 5 June, 1945, Page 489, Russell Guest, Giovanni Massimello, Christopher Shores
- Houston Military Affairs Committee Historic Flag Dedication Ceremony
- John R. Burkett: Draft Card, Houston City Directory, Application for Victory Medal
Remember, Honor, Respect Our Military
How do we continue to Remember, Honor, and Respect our military personnel who died or were severely injured in defense of our nation?
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Post Officers
Here are The American Legion John R. Burkett – Beverly E. Miller Post 77 officers and committee members. Reach out to the Commander to inquire if you’re interested in serving on a specific committee.