Lloyd E. Burns

Lloyd Edward Burns was the only son of Ray and Edna (Westensee) Burns. He was born on August 17, 1920 in Lakota, North Dakota. Lloyd labored as a farm worker with his father until he was called into the Army during World War II on August 4, 1942. He received training in Ft Snelling, Minnesota. Serving in the 334th Infantry Regiment as part of the 84th Infantry Division, Lloyd gave his life in service to his country.

On October 20, 1942 the 334th Infantry Regiment including Lloyd Edward Burns was ordered into active military service at Camp Howze, Texas, about 60 miles north of Dallas. It was intended to be a "replacement regiment." A commonly held understanding among the men of this group was that, "The 334th isn't going anywhere. If it does, we're an Army of Occupation. Man, they can't send this outfit into combat!" Little did they know that their regiment would join the 84th Infantry Division which was later to grind its way through the Siegfried Line, disorganize three of Germany's finest divisions in the Ardennes, and spearhead the Ninth Army's drive across the Roer and into the German heartland.

The 84th Division embarked on 20 September 1944 and arrived in the United Kingdom on the 1st of October, for additional training. The division then landed on Omaha Beach on the Normandy Coast of France, from November 1st through 4th of 1944. They moved to the vicinity of Gulpen, the Netherlands, from the 5th through the 12th of November. The division entered combat on 18th of November with an attack on Geilenkirchen, Germany, (Operation Clipper) as part of the larger offensive in the Roer Valley, north of Aachen. Operating under the command of Lieutenant-General Brian Horrocks the division was supported by British tanks of the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, specialist armoured units of 79th Armored Division, and artillery from the Thirty Corps' of the British Army. Taking Geilenkirchen on the 19th of November, the division pushed forward to take Beeck (Geilenkirchen) and Lindern (Geilenkirchen) in the face of heavy enemy resistance, on the 29th of November.

After a short rest, the division returned to the fight, taking Wurm and Würm (Geilenkirchen), Mullendorf, on the 18th of December. Lloyd Edward Burns died on December 12, 1944 while serving in this division.

He is buriedin Lot 4, Block 26 family plot Lakota City Cemetery, Lakota, North Dakota