A military hero returns home to Siena more than 80 years after his death.
Fr. Kevin Mullen, O.F.M., guardian of the Friary, poignantly noted at the end of the funeral Mass on May 7 that Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Joseph Leroy (Roy) Burke, a former Siena student and World War II prisoner of war, was in the St. Mary of the Angels Chapel for the first time.
"When Roy was a student, this chapel didn't exist. Siena was nothing more than a farmhouse and half of Siena Hall."
Lt. Burke was killed in 1945 aboard the Enoura Maru, a Japanese transport ship carrying Allied POWs through Takao Harbor in present-day Taiwan. Recently, his remains were identified and his family wished to give Burke a proper Catholic funeral at Siena. Yesterday's Mass for family and invited guests was followed by a procession to Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, where Lt. Burke received military burial honors during a public graveside service.
Lt. Burke attended Siena from 1938 to 1940 and was part of the University’s early aviation history, learning to fly through the federal Civilian Pilot Training Program at Albany Airport. He later served with the 3rd Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group in the Philippines. After Japanese forces invaded, Burke and other airmen fought on the ground, and he was captured following the fall of Corregidor in 1942. He remained a prisoner of war until 1945.
Lt. Burke attended Siena from 1938 to 1940 and was part of the University’s early aviation history, learning to fly through the federal Civilian Pilot Training Program at Albany Airport. He later served with the 3rd Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group in the Philippines. After Japanese forces invaded, Burke and other airmen fought on the ground, and he was captured following the fall of Corregidor in 1942. He remained a prisoner of war until 1945.
The story of Lt. Burke was shared broadly by the local media. The Times Union wrote a piece before the funeral Mass and NewsChannel 13 put filed a report together earlier in the week. CBS6 Albany attended yesterday's service and spoke with Fr. Mark Reamer '83, O.F.M., vice president for mission. WAMC was also in the Chapel for yesterday's Mass.