Commanding Officer of the battleship USS California (BB-44) during WW II from October 1943 through December 1944, and during the naval campaigns for the Marianas, Palau and Leyte. He was the first skipper of the storied warship to fire her guns in battle.
The second son and third child of James Burnett and Bettie Caldwell Burnett, Henry Poynter Burnett entered the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD from his home-state Kentucky in 1911. While a midshipman in 1913, he qualified as a sharpshooter and was awarded the USN rifle badge. Graduating on June 5, 1915, he served on four different battle-wagons in the Atlantic Fleet through WWI. His first sea duty was on the USS Delaware (BB-28) home-ported at Norfolk, VA from July 5, 1915 to the fall of 1916. On April 7, 1917 he was assigned to the USS Maine (BB-10) and later that year with the US entry into WWI, he was assigned to the staff of Admiral Henry T. Mayo, Commander, Battle Force, on his flagship, USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) where LT Burnett served as communications officer. In December 1918, Pennsylvania led the convoy carrying President Woodrow Wilson embarked on the seized former German liner, USS George Washington (ID 3018) to Brest, France for the Versailles Peace Conference and treaty signing. It was the first European trip by a sitting US President. For his service in WWI Burnett was entitled to the WWI Victory medal with Atlantic Fleet clasp.
In March 1919, Burnett was a plank owner assigned to the newly commissioned USS Idaho (BB-42) that carried the President-elect of Brazil, Epitácio Pessoa on his voyage from New York to Rio de Janeiro during July that year. Departing Rio, Idaho transited the Panama Canal to join the Pacific Fleet at Mare Island Navy Yard in August 1919. Idaho joined other dreadnoughts in training exercises and reviews, including a Fleet Review by President Wilson on September 13, 1919. That same month, Burnett met his future wife, Doris Farrar in San Francisco. In 1920, Idaho departed from Bremerton, Washington with Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels and Interior Secretary John B. Payne embarked for an inspection tour of Alaska. Returning to the West Coast, the ship continued fleet exercises from its home-port at Long Beach, CA.
In July 1921, LT Burnett was transferred from USS Idaho to Commander, Destroyer Force, Pacific Fleet, based at San Diego, CA where he was executive officer (X.O.) of the destroyer USS Zeilin (DD-313) and later commanding officer (C.O.). In late September, he was ordered to the US Naval Academy as a staff member. In 1922 he entered Submarine School at New London, CT, earning the prized "gold dolphins" following his graduation. In November 1923 he was assigned to the submarine S-50 as X.O. and later C.O. In 1924 he commanded the submarine O-1 at Coco Solo in the Panama Canal Zone, where his daughter Dodie was born in September, 1924. Promoted to lieutenant commander in 1925, the following February, Burnett returned to New London and in August that year was assigned to the Navy Dept. in Washington, DC. In March 1927, he was ordered to Lima, Peru as a member of the US Naval Mission to Peru. Burnett became well-acquainted with South American culture during the three years he spent at Lima and Peru's port city, Callao.
He returned to Washington in May 1930 and was ordered to the USS Vega (AK-17) as X.O. In 1931, he was given command of the destroyer USS Wickes (DD-75) lead ship in her class of "four stackers" that had been commanded by William "Bull" Halsey a few years earlier. In early 1932, Wickes was active in Nicaragua, along with two other ships of the Special Service Squadron, sister ship USS Phillip (DD-76) and the light cruiser USS Memphis (CL-13), earning Burnett and his crew the Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal. While in Central America, Burnett was sent to El Salvador to assist in putting down a Communist uprising there.
Returning to the US in the spring of 1932, LCDR Burnett traveled from NY to Vallejo, CA on the Army transport Republic. For the next year he was variously assigned to Long Beach and Coronado, CA. In mid-1933 he was assigned to head Naval Recruiting at Indianapolis, IN. In late summer 1934, he was assigned as navigator on the heavy cruiser USS Chester (CA-27), the flagship of the Special Service Squadron that was then at the New York Navy Yard before transiting the Panama Canal to return to her home-port with the Pacific Fleet. Another officer that joined Chester in 1934 was newly commissioned Ensign Richard O'Kane, who would win the Medal of Honor as the most successful US submarine officer of World War II, who served on Chester as his first sea duty.
On September 25. 1935, Chester embarked the Secretary of War and his party for a voyage to the Philippines in connection with the inauguration of the president of the Philippines Commonwealth. Returning to San Francisco on December 14, 1935, Chester resumed operations with Cruiser Division 4. Promoted to Commander in 1936, Burnett detached from Chester late that year, just before the cruiser was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet. His next assignment was as X.O. of the Pacific Fleet hospital ship, USS Relief (AH-1).
During 1938-39 he was Executive Officer of the heavy cruiser USS New Orleans, before being assigned to recruiting duties in San Francisco. In 1939, he was assigned as naval liaison to the crown prince of Norway during a visit to Northern California. For fostering cultural understanding of Norway, Commander Burnett was awarded the St. Olav medal by the Norwegian king, Hakkon VII.
In 1941 he commanded the munitions ship USS Pyro, before his promotion to captain and assignment in September 1941 to command the newly formed Naval ROTC unit and additionally the V-7 officer training program initiated a few months later in 1942 at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana. While at Notre Dame, his brother-in-law, LCDR Murvale T. Farrar was his X.O. In October 1943 he received orders to command the battleship USS California that was in the final stages of a nearly two year overhaul and modernization after being sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He commanded California during the Pacific island hopping invasions of 1944: Marianas, Saipan, Guam, Tinian and Leyte. His command of California ended in late November 1944 when he was assigned to shore duty. For his command of USS California in the South Pacific, he was awarded the Bronze Star. Following his command of California, he was the Chief of Staff of the 12th Naval District in San Francisco, until his retirement in 1947 when he was promoted to Rear Admiral for his award of the Bronze Star in combat. Following retirement, he and his wife made their home at Burlingame, in Northern California until his death at age 76 in January 1969. He was survived by his wife, and daughter, Doris, but predeceased by his son and only child, CDR Robert Caldwell Burnett, who had died seven years earlier.
Grateful thanks to Find a Grave Member USS Pyro The Final Watch Project for their sponsorship of this memorial and all the memorials they sponsor of crewman on Final Watch.
The second son and third child of James Burnett and Bettie Caldwell Burnett, Henry Poynter Burnett entered the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD from his home-state Kentucky in 1911. While a midshipman in 1913, he qualified as a sharpshooter and was awarded the USN rifle badge. Graduating on June 5, 1915, he served on four different battle-wagons in the Atlantic Fleet through WWI. His first sea duty was on the USS Delaware (BB-28) home-ported at Norfolk, VA from July 5, 1915 to the fall of 1916. On April 7, 1917 he was assigned to the USS Maine (BB-10) and later that year with the US entry into WWI, he was assigned to the staff of Admiral Henry T. Mayo, Commander, Battle Force, on his flagship, USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) where LT Burnett served as communications officer. In December 1918, Pennsylvania led the convoy carrying President Woodrow Wilson embarked on the seized former German liner, USS George Washington (ID 3018) to Brest, France for the Versailles Peace Conference and treaty signing. It was the first European trip by a sitting US President. For his service in WWI Burnett was entitled to the WWI Victory medal with Atlantic Fleet clasp.
In March 1919, Burnett was a plank owner assigned to the newly commissioned USS Idaho (BB-42) that carried the President-elect of Brazil, Epitácio Pessoa on his voyage from New York to Rio de Janeiro during July that year. Departing Rio, Idaho transited the Panama Canal to join the Pacific Fleet at Mare Island Navy Yard in August 1919. Idaho joined other dreadnoughts in training exercises and reviews, including a Fleet Review by President Wilson on September 13, 1919. That same month, Burnett met his future wife, Doris Farrar in San Francisco. In 1920, Idaho departed from Bremerton, Washington with Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels and Interior Secretary John B. Payne embarked for an inspection tour of Alaska. Returning to the West Coast, the ship continued fleet exercises from its home-port at Long Beach, CA.
In July 1921, LT Burnett was transferred from USS Idaho to Commander, Destroyer Force, Pacific Fleet, based at San Diego, CA where he was executive officer (X.O.) of the destroyer USS Zeilin (DD-313) and later commanding officer (C.O.). In late September, he was ordered to the US Naval Academy as a staff member. In 1922 he entered Submarine School at New London, CT, earning the prized "gold dolphins" following his graduation. In November 1923 he was assigned to the submarine S-50 as X.O. and later C.O. In 1924 he commanded the submarine O-1 at Coco Solo in the Panama Canal Zone, where his daughter Dodie was born in September, 1924. Promoted to lieutenant commander in 1925, the following February, Burnett returned to New London and in August that year was assigned to the Navy Dept. in Washington, DC. In March 1927, he was ordered to Lima, Peru as a member of the US Naval Mission to Peru. Burnett became well-acquainted with South American culture during the three years he spent at Lima and Peru's port city, Callao.
He returned to Washington in May 1930 and was ordered to the USS Vega (AK-17) as X.O. In 1931, he was given command of the destroyer USS Wickes (DD-75) lead ship in her class of "four stackers" that had been commanded by William "Bull" Halsey a few years earlier. In early 1932, Wickes was active in Nicaragua, along with two other ships of the Special Service Squadron, sister ship USS Phillip (DD-76) and the light cruiser USS Memphis (CL-13), earning Burnett and his crew the Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal. While in Central America, Burnett was sent to El Salvador to assist in putting down a Communist uprising there.
Returning to the US in the spring of 1932, LCDR Burnett traveled from NY to Vallejo, CA on the Army transport Republic. For the next year he was variously assigned to Long Beach and Coronado, CA. In mid-1933 he was assigned to head Naval Recruiting at Indianapolis, IN. In late summer 1934, he was assigned as navigator on the heavy cruiser USS Chester (CA-27), the flagship of the Special Service Squadron that was then at the New York Navy Yard before transiting the Panama Canal to return to her home-port with the Pacific Fleet. Another officer that joined Chester in 1934 was newly commissioned Ensign Richard O'Kane, who would win the Medal of Honor as the most successful US submarine officer of World War II, who served on Chester as his first sea duty.
On September 25. 1935, Chester embarked the Secretary of War and his party for a voyage to the Philippines in connection with the inauguration of the president of the Philippines Commonwealth. Returning to San Francisco on December 14, 1935, Chester resumed operations with Cruiser Division 4. Promoted to Commander in 1936, Burnett detached from Chester late that year, just before the cruiser was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet. His next assignment was as X.O. of the Pacific Fleet hospital ship, USS Relief (AH-1).
During 1938-39 he was Executive Officer of the heavy cruiser USS New Orleans, before being assigned to recruiting duties in San Francisco. In 1939, he was assigned as naval liaison to the crown prince of Norway during a visit to Northern California. For fostering cultural understanding of Norway, Commander Burnett was awarded the St. Olav medal by the Norwegian king, Hakkon VII.
In 1941 he commanded the munitions ship USS Pyro, before his promotion to captain and assignment in September 1941 to command the newly formed Naval ROTC unit and additionally the V-7 officer training program initiated a few months later in 1942 at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana. While at Notre Dame, his brother-in-law, LCDR Murvale T. Farrar was his X.O. In October 1943 he received orders to command the battleship USS California that was in the final stages of a nearly two year overhaul and modernization after being sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He commanded California during the Pacific island hopping invasions of 1944: Marianas, Saipan, Guam, Tinian and Leyte. His command of California ended in late November 1944 when he was assigned to shore duty. For his command of USS California in the South Pacific, he was awarded the Bronze Star. Following his command of California, he was the Chief of Staff of the 12th Naval District in San Francisco, until his retirement in 1947 when he was promoted to Rear Admiral for his award of the Bronze Star in combat. Following retirement, he and his wife made their home at Burlingame, in Northern California until his death at age 76 in January 1969. He was survived by his wife, and daughter, Doris, but predeceased by his son and only child, CDR Robert Caldwell Burnett, who had died seven years earlier.
Grateful thanks to Find a Grave Member USS Pyro The Final Watch Project for their sponsorship of this memorial and all the memorials they sponsor of crewman on Final Watch.
Commanding Officer of the battleship USS California (BB-44) during WW II from October 1943 through December 1944, and during the naval campaigns for the Marianas, Palau and Leyte. He was the first skipper of the storied warship to fire her guns in battle.
The second son and third child of James Burnett and Bettie Caldwell Burnett, Henry Poynter Burnett entered the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD from his home-state Kentucky in 1911. While a midshipman in 1913, he qualified as a sharpshooter and was awarded the USN rifle badge. Graduating on June 5, 1915, he served on four different battle-wagons in the Atlantic Fleet through WWI. His first sea duty was on the USS Delaware (BB-28) home-ported at Norfolk, VA from July 5, 1915 to the fall of 1916. On April 7, 1917 he was assigned to the USS Maine (BB-10) and later that year with the US entry into WWI, he was assigned to the staff of Admiral Henry T. Mayo, Commander, Battle Force, on his flagship, USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) where LT Burnett served as communications officer. In December 1918, Pennsylvania led the convoy carrying President Woodrow Wilson embarked on the seized former German liner, USS George Washington (ID 3018) to Brest, France for the Versailles Peace Conference and treaty signing. It was the first European trip by a sitting US President. For his service in WWI Burnett was entitled to the WWI Victory medal with Atlantic Fleet clasp.
In March 1919, Burnett was a plank owner assigned to the newly commissioned USS Idaho (BB-42) that carried the President-elect of Brazil, Epitácio Pessoa on his voyage from New York to Rio de Janeiro during July that year. Departing Rio, Idaho transited the Panama Canal to join the Pacific Fleet at Mare Island Navy Yard in August 1919. Idaho joined other dreadnoughts in training exercises and reviews, including a Fleet Review by President Wilson on September 13, 1919. That same month, Burnett met his future wife, Doris Farrar in San Francisco. In 1920, Idaho departed from Bremerton, Washington with Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels and Interior Secretary John B. Payne embarked for an inspection tour of Alaska. Returning to the West Coast, the ship continued fleet exercises from its home-port at Long Beach, CA.
In July 1921, LT Burnett was transferred from USS Idaho to Commander, Destroyer Force, Pacific Fleet, based at San Diego, CA where he was executive officer (X.O.) of the destroyer USS Zeilin (DD-313) and later commanding officer (C.O.). In late September, he was ordered to the US Naval Academy as a staff member. In 1922 he entered Submarine School at New London, CT, earning the prized "gold dolphins" following his graduation. In November 1923 he was assigned to the submarine S-50 as X.O. and later C.O. In 1924 he commanded the submarine O-1 at Coco Solo in the Panama Canal Zone, where his daughter Dodie was born in September, 1924. Promoted to lieutenant commander in 1925, the following February, Burnett returned to New London and in August that year was assigned to the Navy Dept. in Washington, DC. In March 1927, he was ordered to Lima, Peru as a member of the US Naval Mission to Peru. Burnett became well-acquainted with South American culture during the three years he spent at Lima and Peru's port city, Callao.
He returned to Washington in May 1930 and was ordered to the USS Vega (AK-17) as X.O. In 1931, he was given command of the destroyer USS Wickes (DD-75) lead ship in her class of "four stackers" that had been commanded by William "Bull" Halsey a few years earlier. In early 1932, Wickes was active in Nicaragua, along with two other ships of the Special Service Squadron, sister ship USS Phillip (DD-76) and the light cruiser USS Memphis (CL-13), earning Burnett and his crew the Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal. While in Central America, Burnett was sent to El Salvador to assist in putting down a Communist uprising there.
Returning to the US in the spring of 1932, LCDR Burnett traveled from NY to Vallejo, CA on the Army transport Republic. For the next year he was variously assigned to Long Beach and Coronado, CA. In mid-1933 he was assigned to head Naval Recruiting at Indianapolis, IN. In late summer 1934, he was assigned as navigator on the heavy cruiser USS Chester (CA-27), the flagship of the Special Service Squadron that was then at the New York Navy Yard before transiting the Panama Canal to return to her home-port with the Pacific Fleet. Another officer that joined Chester in 1934 was newly commissioned Ensign Richard O'Kane, who would win the Medal of Honor as the most successful US submarine officer of World War II, who served on Chester as his first sea duty.
On September 25. 1935, Chester embarked the Secretary of War and his party for a voyage to the Philippines in connection with the inauguration of the president of the Philippines Commonwealth. Returning to San Francisco on December 14, 1935, Chester resumed operations with Cruiser Division 4. Promoted to Commander in 1936, Burnett detached from Chester late that year, just before the cruiser was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet. His next assignment was as X.O. of the Pacific Fleet hospital ship, USS Relief (AH-1).
During 1938-39 he was Executive Officer of the heavy cruiser USS New Orleans, before being assigned to recruiting duties in San Francisco. In 1939, he was assigned as naval liaison to the crown prince of Norway during a visit to Northern California. For fostering cultural understanding of Norway, Commander Burnett was awarded the St. Olav medal by the Norwegian king, Hakkon VII.
In 1941 he commanded the munitions ship USS Pyro, before his promotion to captain and assignment in September 1941 to command the newly formed Naval ROTC unit and additionally the V-7 officer training program initiated a few months later in 1942 at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana. While at Notre Dame, his brother-in-law, LCDR Murvale T. Farrar was his X.O. In October 1943 he received orders to command the battleship USS California that was in the final stages of a nearly two year overhaul and modernization after being sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He commanded California during the Pacific island hopping invasions of 1944: Marianas, Saipan, Guam, Tinian and Leyte. His command of California ended in late November 1944 when he was assigned to shore duty. For his command of USS California in the South Pacific, he was awarded the Bronze Star. Following his command of California, he was the Chief of Staff of the 12th Naval District in San Francisco, until his retirement in 1947 when he was promoted to Rear Admiral for his award of the Bronze Star in combat. Following retirement, he and his wife made their home at Burlingame, in Northern California until his death at age 76 in January 1969. He was survived by his wife, and daughter, Doris, but predeceased by his son and only child, CDR Robert Caldwell Burnett, who had died seven years earlier.
Grateful thanks to Find a Grave Member USS Pyro The Final Watch Project for their sponsorship of this memorial and all the memorials they sponsor of crewman on Final Watch.
The second son and third child of James Burnett and Bettie Caldwell Burnett, Henry Poynter Burnett entered the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD from his home-state Kentucky in 1911. While a midshipman in 1913, he qualified as a sharpshooter and was awarded the USN rifle badge. Graduating on June 5, 1915, he served on four different battle-wagons in the Atlantic Fleet through WWI. His first sea duty was on the USS Delaware (BB-28) home-ported at Norfolk, VA from July 5, 1915 to the fall of 1916. On April 7, 1917 he was assigned to the USS Maine (BB-10) and later that year with the US entry into WWI, he was assigned to the staff of Admiral Henry T. Mayo, Commander, Battle Force, on his flagship, USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) where LT Burnett served as communications officer. In December 1918, Pennsylvania led the convoy carrying President Woodrow Wilson embarked on the seized former German liner, USS George Washington (ID 3018) to Brest, France for the Versailles Peace Conference and treaty signing. It was the first European trip by a sitting US President. For his service in WWI Burnett was entitled to the WWI Victory medal with Atlantic Fleet clasp.
In March 1919, Burnett was a plank owner assigned to the newly commissioned USS Idaho (BB-42) that carried the President-elect of Brazil, Epitácio Pessoa on his voyage from New York to Rio de Janeiro during July that year. Departing Rio, Idaho transited the Panama Canal to join the Pacific Fleet at Mare Island Navy Yard in August 1919. Idaho joined other dreadnoughts in training exercises and reviews, including a Fleet Review by President Wilson on September 13, 1919. That same month, Burnett met his future wife, Doris Farrar in San Francisco. In 1920, Idaho departed from Bremerton, Washington with Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels and Interior Secretary John B. Payne embarked for an inspection tour of Alaska. Returning to the West Coast, the ship continued fleet exercises from its home-port at Long Beach, CA.
In July 1921, LT Burnett was transferred from USS Idaho to Commander, Destroyer Force, Pacific Fleet, based at San Diego, CA where he was executive officer (X.O.) of the destroyer USS Zeilin (DD-313) and later commanding officer (C.O.). In late September, he was ordered to the US Naval Academy as a staff member. In 1922 he entered Submarine School at New London, CT, earning the prized "gold dolphins" following his graduation. In November 1923 he was assigned to the submarine S-50 as X.O. and later C.O. In 1924 he commanded the submarine O-1 at Coco Solo in the Panama Canal Zone, where his daughter Dodie was born in September, 1924. Promoted to lieutenant commander in 1925, the following February, Burnett returned to New London and in August that year was assigned to the Navy Dept. in Washington, DC. In March 1927, he was ordered to Lima, Peru as a member of the US Naval Mission to Peru. Burnett became well-acquainted with South American culture during the three years he spent at Lima and Peru's port city, Callao.
He returned to Washington in May 1930 and was ordered to the USS Vega (AK-17) as X.O. In 1931, he was given command of the destroyer USS Wickes (DD-75) lead ship in her class of "four stackers" that had been commanded by William "Bull" Halsey a few years earlier. In early 1932, Wickes was active in Nicaragua, along with two other ships of the Special Service Squadron, sister ship USS Phillip (DD-76) and the light cruiser USS Memphis (CL-13), earning Burnett and his crew the Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal. While in Central America, Burnett was sent to El Salvador to assist in putting down a Communist uprising there.
Returning to the US in the spring of 1932, LCDR Burnett traveled from NY to Vallejo, CA on the Army transport Republic. For the next year he was variously assigned to Long Beach and Coronado, CA. In mid-1933 he was assigned to head Naval Recruiting at Indianapolis, IN. In late summer 1934, he was assigned as navigator on the heavy cruiser USS Chester (CA-27), the flagship of the Special Service Squadron that was then at the New York Navy Yard before transiting the Panama Canal to return to her home-port with the Pacific Fleet. Another officer that joined Chester in 1934 was newly commissioned Ensign Richard O'Kane, who would win the Medal of Honor as the most successful US submarine officer of World War II, who served on Chester as his first sea duty.
On September 25. 1935, Chester embarked the Secretary of War and his party for a voyage to the Philippines in connection with the inauguration of the president of the Philippines Commonwealth. Returning to San Francisco on December 14, 1935, Chester resumed operations with Cruiser Division 4. Promoted to Commander in 1936, Burnett detached from Chester late that year, just before the cruiser was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet. His next assignment was as X.O. of the Pacific Fleet hospital ship, USS Relief (AH-1).
During 1938-39 he was Executive Officer of the heavy cruiser USS New Orleans, before being assigned to recruiting duties in San Francisco. In 1939, he was assigned as naval liaison to the crown prince of Norway during a visit to Northern California. For fostering cultural understanding of Norway, Commander Burnett was awarded the St. Olav medal by the Norwegian king, Hakkon VII.
In 1941 he commanded the munitions ship USS Pyro, before his promotion to captain and assignment in September 1941 to command the newly formed Naval ROTC unit and additionally the V-7 officer training program initiated a few months later in 1942 at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana. While at Notre Dame, his brother-in-law, LCDR Murvale T. Farrar was his X.O. In October 1943 he received orders to command the battleship USS California that was in the final stages of a nearly two year overhaul and modernization after being sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He commanded California during the Pacific island hopping invasions of 1944: Marianas, Saipan, Guam, Tinian and Leyte. His command of California ended in late November 1944 when he was assigned to shore duty. For his command of USS California in the South Pacific, he was awarded the Bronze Star. Following his command of California, he was the Chief of Staff of the 12th Naval District in San Francisco, until his retirement in 1947 when he was promoted to Rear Admiral for his award of the Bronze Star in combat. Following retirement, he and his wife made their home at Burlingame, in Northern California until his death at age 76 in January 1969. He was survived by his wife, and daughter, Doris, but predeceased by his son and only child, CDR Robert Caldwell Burnett, who had died seven years earlier.
Grateful thanks to Find a Grave Member USS Pyro The Final Watch Project for their sponsorship of this memorial and all the memorials they sponsor of crewman on Final Watch.
Gravesite Details
RADM USN
