Romus Valton Burgin (13 August 1922 - 6 April 2019) was a US Marines Corps Sergeant and American author who served as a mortarman non-commissioned officer serving in Company K, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines during World War II. Burgin was in a leadership position within the mortar section of Company K and thus Eugene Sledge's superior. He was the author of the memoir Islands of the Damned: A Marine at War in the Pacific (with William Marvel).
Biography[]
Early life[]
Burgin was born to Joseph Harmon Burgin and Beulah May (née Perry) Burgin in Jewett, Texas. He attended and graduated from Jewett High School in 1940 where he had been Captain of the football team. Burgin's younger brother, Joseph ("Joe" or "J.D.") Delton joined the United States Army, after changing his birth year from 1926 to 1925, and was sent to Europe, as a member of Company "C", 274th Infantry Regiment, US 70th Infantry Division ("Trailblazers"). Joseph died in Alsace-Lorraine on February 17, 1945, when he was killed by artillery fire near the river Saar and the town of Forbach, as they moved east toward Saarbrücken on the other side of the river, as part of a push against the Siegfried Line. He is buried at the Sardis Cemetery next to his parents.
WW2 service[]
Burgin joined the United States Marine Corps on November 13, 1942, during World War II and was assigned to the 9th Replacement Battalion. When Burgin arrived in Austin in late March 1939 the bustling city of about a million people was one of the most beautiful places he'd ever seen. Like most other new replacements, Burgin was only about three months out of boot camp in San Diego, and he still had plenty of work to do to become a full-fledged member of the Old Breed. But that didn't keep him from exploring the wonders of Melbourne to the fullest — and finding a steady girlfriend there.
Burgin after enlistment
"The people of Melbourne treated us like royalty," Burgin recalled. "They knew the American victory at Guadalcanal had eliminated the threat of a Japanese invasion, and they called the guys who fought there 'the Saviors of Australia.' Basically, the Aussies and Americans just liked each other, anyway."
In the course of his wanderings, Burgin met a girl named Florence Riseley at an ice cream parlor. He asked her out on a double date with Jimmy Burke and Florence's friend, Doris, and almost immediately, he sensed something special about her. After that, he spent less and less time with Jimmy in the pubs, where women usually weren't allowed, and more and more time on long walks with Florence. The idyll lasted for about four months. Then, suddenly, it was ending. In the late spring of 1943 word came that the division would soon ship out, first to New Guinea, some 2,800 miles due north of Melbourne, then to someplace else. As yet, nobody knew where the "someplace else" was. By this time, Burgin and Florence were unofficially engaged, and saying goodbye to her was the most difficult task he'd ever faced. Harder than leaving home. Harder than boot camp. Harder than anything.
Pavuvu[]
Burgin meet Eugene Sledge, Bill Leyden, and Robert Oswalt along with fellow Marines, Merriel Shelton and Jay De L'Eau. While Snafu teases the replacements and De L'Eau shows them around, Burgin just stays in the cabin.
Burgin after the beach landings of Peleliu.
Peleliu[]
At the time the marines landed in Peleliu, Burgin was the Mortar Squad Leader and not yet Sledge's Section Sergeant as the role belonged to GySgt. Haney at the time. So Burgin did not have a very large role during this time, and he usually just follows the rest of the squad through the beach and airfield. He relays orders from Lt. "Hillbilly" Jones to the Mortar Squad.
Bloody Nose Ridge[]
Burgin gets a slightly bigger role in the Bloody Nose Ridge. While the unit fights through the hills, Sledge asks Burgin why the Japanese won't surrender. Burgin merely replies, "Cause they're Japs." After much brutal fighting where the unit loses one of their own, Burgin brings some bad news: their Captain, Andrew Haldane, is dead, having been shot through the head by a sniper. Burgin leaves to allow stretcher bearers to carry Haldane through a column of sorrowful marines. Burgin is later seen with the rest of the unit in a boat, and then presumably in Pavuvu going to swim naked off the shore.
Burgin during the reduction of the Shuri Bastion.
Okinawa[]
After Haney was relieved, Burgin gets promoted and becomes the Mortar Section Sergeant of Sledge's squad, under a new, and less likable Lieutenant in Okinawa. Burgin does what he can to keep Sledge and Sheldon out of trouble, as well as two replacements, Pvts Noah Hamm and Tony Peck. Eventually, Hamm is killed and Peck is incarcerated. Burgin is then seen along with Sledge and Snafu in a truck leaving a section of the island. Some time later, Burgin, Sledge, and Snafu celebrate Victory in Japan Day outside of the crowd, and then contemplate their return home.
Return Home[]
Burgin saying goodbye to Sledge and Sheldon before getting back home to Texas.
After some service in China, Burgin, Sledge, and Snafu finally return home. Burgin goes first, looking for Florence before realizing with Snafu's help that Florence couldn't get to the station this fast. Burgin then leaves the train.
Later life[]
Burgin eventually married Florence in January 1947, and they lived in Lancaster, Texas raising four daughters. Florence died on 25 August 2011. Burgin died 6 April 2019 four months before his 97th birthday. R.V. and Florence are buried at Rawlins Cemetery in Lancaster.