Brandon Twp.- At 16, Edward Burns had been places, seen things and experienced more than most adolescents have ever read about.
Born in Detroit in 1929 to Allison and Joseph Burns, Edward attended Benjamin Franklin Elementary School through the eighth grade. During the summer months Burns, who grew up in the shadow of Briggs Stadium near Michigan and Trumbull avenues played city league baseball and about 1945 was scouted by the Detroit Tigers as a catcher.
‘I was considered by the Detroit Tigers but because I was ineligible due to my math grades and my young age they (Detroit Tigers) wouldn’t even talk to me,? said Burns.
Discouraged as a student at East Detroit High School, Burns looked toward the post World War II military rather than continuing his education.
So, in early February 1946, Burns, then 16, walked into the Detroit area marine corps recruiting station. Too young to enlist, Burns assumed the identity of an older classmate, Claire Robinson 17.
‘I had an acquaintance sign my consent to enlist,? said Burns. ‘I was then given a physical examination and found qualified for service.?
On Feb. 7, 1946 Burns was sworn into the marine corps as PVT. Robinson and departed for Parris Island, S.C. for 12 weeks of basic training.
‘I think someone told them what I did’they found out and told me to report myself, the marines sent them a waiver.?
‘My folks were angry,? said Burns, an only child. ‘After about four weeks they figured out what I did, they wanted me out of the Marines. I told them I wanted to stay and they finally signed for me to remain.?
In July, Burns was shipped to Tsing Tao, China with the 12th Service Battalion and the 3rd Service Battalion as a truck driver. The military duty included supporting the Chinese Nationalists in their battles with the communists.
‘At 16, you’re not truly mature,? says Burns. ‘When I got (to China) there were a lot of older American servicemen.?
‘The people in the country were very poor’many countrymen stole from others and went through our garbage for food. They did what they had to, to survive.?
Soon after Burns arrived in Tsing Tao, Chinese Nationalist leader and anti-communist Chaing Kai Shek arrived in town near the American encampment.
‘As a joke, me and a few other soldiers drove up the house where (Shek) was staying,? said Burns. ‘We asked if we could visit with him’his guards pointed their bayonets at us and told us to clear out. We did.?
Burns served in China for about 15 months and returned home in November 1947. In 1950, Burns was called back to active duty and stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina until September 1951. After his discharge from the marines, Burns worked as an engineer for J.L. Hudson’s 17 years. He then worked for Royal Oak Schools as a maintenance foreman for 38 years.
‘The birthday of the marine corps is Nov. 10. That’s more important to me than Veterans Day, Nov. 11,? said Burns. ‘I always wanted to be a Marine. I wanted the glory and I thought it was a good outfit’but what I really wanted was the discipline.?
Burns was married to Dorothy Boscoe in 1949. The couple had three children, Dan, Debbie and Darline. Dorothy Burns was the first president of the Local VFW-Ladies Auxiliary. She died in 1993.