Commander of Fort McDowell and the Presidio of San Francisco from 1919 until his retirement in 1924 after more than forty years of service.
During his career he served as commander of the 82nd Division in France during the St. Mihiel offensive and the battle of Meuse-Argonne, was in charge of the American Mission in Greece in 1919 and served in Puerto Rico. In March 1915, General Burnham "fired America's first shot in the World War," while commanding an infantry regiment in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The German supply ship Odenwalko was in the harbor preparing to make a run for the sea when General Burnham warned the commander that force would be used if he attempted to leave without proper authority. The German commander ignored the warning. When the ship headed for sea, the Americans under General Burnham's command fired a cannon ball across her bow, forcing her back to port. He was decorated with the Order of the Bath by King George V, the Greek Military Medal of Honor and the French Croix de Guerre.
Major General William Power Burnham was the son of Major David R. Burnham, a career Army officer who was a Union Army veteran of the American Civil War.
During his career he served as commander of the 82nd Division in France during the St. Mihiel offensive and the battle of Meuse-Argonne, was in charge of the American Mission in Greece in 1919 and served in Puerto Rico. In March 1915, General Burnham "fired America's first shot in the World War," while commanding an infantry regiment in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The German supply ship Odenwalko was in the harbor preparing to make a run for the sea when General Burnham warned the commander that force would be used if he attempted to leave without proper authority. The German commander ignored the warning. When the ship headed for sea, the Americans under General Burnham's command fired a cannon ball across her bow, forcing her back to port. He was decorated with the Order of the Bath by King George V, the Greek Military Medal of Honor and the French Croix de Guerre.
Major General William Power Burnham was the son of Major David R. Burnham, a career Army officer who was a Union Army veteran of the American Civil War.
Commander of Fort McDowell and the Presidio of San Francisco from 1919 until his retirement in 1924 after more than forty years of service.
During his career he served as commander of the 82nd Division in France during the St. Mihiel offensive and the battle of Meuse-Argonne, was in charge of the American Mission in Greece in 1919 and served in Puerto Rico. In March 1915, General Burnham "fired America's first shot in the World War," while commanding an infantry regiment in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The German supply ship Odenwalko was in the harbor preparing to make a run for the sea when General Burnham warned the commander that force would be used if he attempted to leave without proper authority. The German commander ignored the warning. When the ship headed for sea, the Americans under General Burnham's command fired a cannon ball across her bow, forcing her back to port. He was decorated with the Order of the Bath by King George V, the Greek Military Medal of Honor and the French Croix de Guerre.
Major General William Power Burnham was the son of Major David R. Burnham, a career Army officer who was a Union Army veteran of the American Civil War.
During his career he served as commander of the 82nd Division in France during the St. Mihiel offensive and the battle of Meuse-Argonne, was in charge of the American Mission in Greece in 1919 and served in Puerto Rico. In March 1915, General Burnham "fired America's first shot in the World War," while commanding an infantry regiment in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The German supply ship Odenwalko was in the harbor preparing to make a run for the sea when General Burnham warned the commander that force would be used if he attempted to leave without proper authority. The German commander ignored the warning. When the ship headed for sea, the Americans under General Burnham's command fired a cannon ball across her bow, forcing her back to port. He was decorated with the Order of the Bath by King George V, the Greek Military Medal of Honor and the French Croix de Guerre.
Major General William Power Burnham was the son of Major David R. Burnham, a career Army officer who was a Union Army veteran of the American Civil War.
Inscription
WILLIAM POWER BURNHAM
MAJOR GENERAL, U.S. ARMY
1860-1930
HIS WIFE
GRACE F. BURNHAM
1869-1942
Gravesite Details
Large white stone
Family Members
Siblings
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