George A. Burk

George A. Burk is a retired captain in the United States Air Force, writer, and motivational speaker. Burk was the sole survivor of an Air Force airplane crash in 1970. He has written several books about his experiences.

George A. Burk
aka Captain George Burk
Born
George Albert Burk

(1941-07-09) July 9, 1941
Pittsburgh, PA
Alma materAdrian College, Webster University
OccupationUSAF, retired
Board member ofAlumni board of directors, Adrian College, 2003–2006

Biography

From 1952–1955, Burk played on the first Sheraden (3.5 miles southwest of downtown Pittsburgh) Little League (Kiwanis) and Pony League (Corliss War Vets) Teams. He was a left-handed pitcher and played first base. Prep League Baseball, 1955–1959. He played on the Beechview Legion Baseball Team 1959–1961. He graduated from Langley High School in Pittsburgh, PA, 1959 and was a four-year Letterman basketball and baseball. The summer of 1957, when he was 16, George was invited to a tryout by the Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field in the Oakland section Pittsburgh. Throughout high school and his college years, George was scouted by the Pirates, Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers. His dream, since he was a young boy, was to become a major league pitcher. An arm injury the summer after his junior year in college, while he played semi-pro baseball in Michigan, ended his dream. He was awarded a basketball scholarship, Adrian College, Adrian Michigan. Graduated from Adrian College, 1963 B A in Business. Graduated from USAF Officer Training School (OTS) May 1964. Commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. Assignments included Keesler Air Force Base, MS; England Air Force Base, LA; Mather Air Force Base, CA. Volunteered for duty in Vietnam. Capt. Burk was assigned to Da Nang AB, Vietnam as the Chief Controller, Radar Approach Control (RAPCON) and Flight Facilities Officer (temp duty).

July 1968, RAPCON at Da Nang AB was the first military Air Traffic Control Facility in Southeast Asia to win the Command ATC Facility of the Year Award. 1967–1968, Da Nang AB was the busiest airport in the world.

In May 1970, he was the sole survivor of 14 passengers in a military plane crash[1][2] piloted by Capt. Robert L. Robinson Jr. About four minutes after takeoff, at roughly 3,000 feet, the plane, a Convair T-29, suffered a massive structural failure. The pilot's side of the cockpit blew in, killing Robinson instantly.[3] The co-pilot crash-landed in a forested area. The crew was en route from Hamilton Air Force Base to Spokane, Washington to conduct an operational analysis. Ascending through 3000 feet, the aircraft experienced rapid decompression and massive structural failure, crashing in the hills near Schellville, California. Burk suffered severe burns and multiple internal injuries and spent 90 days in intensive care where he had two near death experiences, and a total of 18 months in the hospital. He was medically retired from the Air Force in 1971.[1]

On January 1, 1999, George's first book was published, "The Bridge Never Crossed: A Survivor's Search for Meaning".[4] Reporter Deborah Weisberg of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote a review about The Bridge Never Crossed, Deborah Weisberg, Reporter, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Comment on The Bridge Never Crossed.

On June 19, 2014 a memorial was dedicated at the crash site of "Visco 57" in which Captain Burk attended along with family members of others who died on the flight.[5] "Memorial bench dedication for USAF flight 'Visco 57' south of Petaluma" on YouTube

Former First Lady Barbara Bush presents George Burk the Presidential Award for Outstanding Employees With Disabilities. Taking part in the Washington, D.C. ceremony are (from left to right): Marine Corps Commandant, General Alfred M. Gray; Mrs. Bush; Constance Berry Newman, Director of the Office of Personnel Management; and Elizabeth Dole, Secretary of Labor.

Published works
  • The Bridge Never Crossed – A Survivor's Search for Meaning., by Burk, George A., ISBN 1-888725-16-8.
  • Value Centered Leadership – A Survivor's Strategy for Personal and Professional Growth., by Burk, George A., ISBN 1-888725-59-1.
  • My Mother My Friend – The Story of a Boy and the Love of His Mother., by Burk, George A., non-fiction, ISBN 1-888725-09-5.
  • Laugh You Live Cry You Die – A Burn Survivor's Triumph Over Tragedy., by Burk, George A., ISBN 978-1596300682.

References
  1. Lori A. Carter, "Air Force plane crash south of Petaluma recalled 44 years later", Stars and Stripes, June 19, 2014; also reprinted in Marin Independent Journal, June 20, 2014.
  2. Press-Telegram, Long Beach, CA , May 5, 1970
  3. Scott Herhold, "Memorial Dedication Ceremony of Hamilton AFB Flight", San Jose Mercury News, March 21, 2012.
  4. Scott Herhold, "Herhold: A story of sacrifice by a Mount Umunhum commander" The Mercury News, March 21, 2012 04:24:39 pm PDT
  5. "Memorial Dedication Ceremony of Hamilton AFB Flight", Patch.com, June 19, 2014
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