HONOR MISSION
MCPO Leander Burgess, 48, US Marine Corps/Army/Coast Guard, Veteran, ODS/DS, of Killeen, TX
The family of Master Chief Leander Burgess has requested the presence and participation of the Patriot Guard Riders at the Funeral and Committal Services of their Loved One.
Leander's military career stretches over twenty four years and three different services. He first joined the Marine Corps in August 1987 at the age of seventeen and attended boot camp at Parris Island, SC. He then attended Marine Corp School of Infantry at Camp Geiger, NC and was selected for Barracks Duty at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Master Chief Burgess then transferred to the Fleet Marine Force where he was assigned to 1st Battalion 6th Marines at Camp Lejeune, NC. While Master Chief Burgess was with the 6th Marines, he was deployed to Okinawa, Japan where he received new orders that sent his unit to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Shield. In the Persian Gulf, Master Chief Burgess fought on the front lines when the United States went on the offensive during Desert Storm and was a member of the Enemy Prisoner of War (EPOW) team. After a 9-month deployment, Burgess returned to NC where he finished out his enlistment with the Marine Corps in 1991.
In 1993, Master Chief Burgess the joined the Tupelo, MS Army National Guard where he was a member of the 155th Brigade Combat Team and worked in the Rear Tactical Operations Center. In 1994, Master Chief Burgess relocated to IL and joined the IL Army National Guard as a member of the 178th Infantry based out of Chicago, IL.
In 1995, Master Chief Burgess began his journey with the Coast Guard by attending boot camp in Cape May, NJ. His first set of orders directed him to New Orleans, LA where he worked in Facilities Engineering before attending RD "A" School at TRACEN Yorktown and graduating with honors. As a Radarman, Master Chief Burgess' first duty assignment was on the CGC RUSH (WHEC-723) stationed in Honolulu, HI for three years. He then transferred to Puget Sound Vessel Traffic Center in Seattle, WA for a year and a half before receiving orders back to CGC RUSH (WHEC-723) as the Leading Petty Officer in the Combat Information Center (CIC). Master Chief Burgess held this position for a year and a half before transferring to Group Portland, Oregon as a Search and Rescue Controller. After one year in this position, Master Chief Burgess advanced to the rank of Chief, transferred to PACAREA Intel, and completed a mutual transfer in order to return sea as a Chief of CIC onboard the CGC BOUTWELL (WHEC-719).
In 2006, Master Chief Burgess received new orders transferring him to Sector Houston-Galveston, TX as the Radio Chief in the Command Center and the Command Security Officer for Sector Houston-Galveston. Master Chief held this position for two years before advancing to the rank of Senior Chief in 2008 and transferring to Valdez, AK for duty as the Supervisor of Prince William Sound Vessel Traffic Center and Command Senior Chief for four local area units. In 2010, Master Chief Burgess transferred to LANTAREA C4IT in Portsmouth, VA where he advanced to the rank of Master Chief and departed in 2011 for TRACEN Petaluma to assume duties as the OS Rating Training Master Chief at TRACEN Petaluma.
As the OS Rating Training Master Chief, he worked closely with the OS Rating Force Master Chief to help usher in a new era of training and advancement testing in the form of RPQS and ERATS. The OS rate was one of the first ratings to make this change at TRACEN Petaluma. His entire obituary may be viewed here: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/killeen-tx/leander-burgess-8203511
Date: Mon, 25 Mar 19
FUNERAL SERVICE
Staging Time: 0805
Staging Location: Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home, 1615 South Fort Hood St, KILLEEN, TX 76542 (http://tinyurl.com/ykp5q6o)
Briefing: 0815
Flagline Establishment: 0825 +/- Once the Funeral Service begins; we will strike the flagline and prepare to participate in the procession.
Staging Location: The cul-de-sac between the Walk of Heroes and the Memorial Shelter at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, 11463 SH 195, Killeen, TX 76542 (http://tinyurl.com/CenTexVetsCeme)
Setup & Briefing: Upon clearance and at the direction of the Ride Captain, we will move to the shelter, set up the flags, be briefed and await arrival of the procession.
