WICHITA, KS, US
U.S. Army
SPC, CO A, 1ST BN, 5TH INF REG, 1ST STRYKER BCT, FORT WAINWRIGHT, AK
11/16/2011, KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN
Army Specialist James R Burnett Jr. passed away on November 16, 2011 at the age of 21 courageously serving his country overseas in the Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. He was a part of the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division of Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Burnett Jr. suffered fatal wounds from an attack on his unit by enemy forces that used an improvised explosive device.
James was born on November 2, 1990 to his parents James Burnett Sr., and Rebecca Rogers Metcalf. James is from Wichita, Kansas, and had decided at a young age that he dreamed of joining the army, and completed basic training during his junior and senior years of high school. James graduated from Clearwater High School in Clearwater, KS in 2009. James deployed in April 2011, which was a deployment of one year to Afghanistan. He had a leave in July of 2011, which he spent visiting his loving family.
James is survived by his father, James Burnett Sr., his stepmother, Cheri Burnett; his one brother, Sean Burnett; four sisters, Jocelynn, Daisy, Ruthie, and Ceceilia Burnett, all of Brownwood; his paternal grandparent, Jim Burnett, of Zalma; and step-grandparents Jerry and Linda Bell, of Advance, MO.
James is also survived by his mother, Rebecca Metcalf, and his stepfather, John Metcalf; three sisters, Natasha, Tiffany and Elizabeth, of Wichita Kansas; by his maternal grandparents, Niel and Sally Rogers, of Chaffe, Mo.; and his step-grandparents, Mary and John Metcalf of Fort Myers, Fla. James was also survived by his fiancée Amy Keeler.
James Burnett Ronald Burnett Jr. fought bravely, honorably, and courageously for our country, and the people of our grateful nation will always have James in our hearts and prayers. We cannot thank him enough for his service in our nation’s Army.
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