Civil War ☆ WWI ☆ WWII ☆ Korea ☆ Vietnam ☆ Iraq I ☆ Iraq II ☆ Afghanistan
| Name | Narrative | Branch and Rank | Unit and Specialty | Conflict/Arena | Born/Died |
| Joseph W. “Joe” Burk | He was born January 19, 1914 in Philadelphia, to Paul and Margurite Burk. Joe was the elder of the two Burk brothers of Delanco that grew up on a farm on Route 130 in Delanco. Joe graduated from Moorestown High School. He was an accomplished athlete in high school, lettering in multiple sports. Both Burk boys became interested in competitive rowing in 1930. Both attended the University of Pennsylvania and concentrated on rowing at the University. Joe competed first in the eights then in singles. He trophied in many regattas in America and England and was expected to medal in the 1940 Olympics, but the outbreak of WWII brought cancellation of the games. Joe enlisted in the US Navy and served as commander of patrol torpedo boat PT-320 in the Pacific in World War II. On March 29, 1943 as an ensign, he was assigned to command Motor Torpedo Squadron Twenty-One, and reported to the New York City Navy Yard for outfitting. He commanded PT-320. Assigned to the South Pacific, his crew staged raids that sank 26 Japanese supply barges between November 1943 and January 1944 off New Guinea and New Britain. He also had the honor of ferrying General Douglas MacArthur between islands that had only recently been captured by the Americans. Burk was awarded the Navy Cross, his service’s highest award for valor after the Medal of Honor, for raids in the face of enemy bombings and shore-battery attacks, and for two "secret missions far behind enemy lines." He was awarded Navy Cross for his efforts. He also received the Silver Star and the Bronze Star. At the time of the award he was a Lieutenant Junior Grade. Joe's wife, Kay was the sister of the second in command on his PT boat. Joe returned to Delanco after the war and returned to competitive rowing and coaching. He died in Scottsdale, Arizona on January 13, 2008 at age 93. Burial location unknown. Joseph William "Joe" Burk was listed on the original Delanco WW II Honor Roll. | US Navy, LT JG | PT Boat Commander Captain, PT-320 Commander, Flotilla 21 | WWII, Southwest Pacific | 1914 –2008 |
Updated October 30, 2023