Justin Burdette

Justin Burdette joined the Army in March 2006. He had three combat deployments - the first to Iraq and the other two to Afghanistan. Three months into his third deployment, on June 9, 2013, Justin and his platoon were on a dismounted patrol in Wardak province when they received incoming fire. Justin was hit with a 107 mm rocket. The blast caused him to lose both legs below the knees. The rocket went through his left leg and exploded behind him causing him to also lose his right leg.  His medic was able to stop the bleeding enough to get him safely off the mountain. Helicopters were in the area and were able to get him back to the field hospital in record time. He received his Purple Heart on the day he was injured while still in Afghanistan.

From Afghanistan, Sgt. Burdette was flown to Landstuhl, Germany where he spent several days in surgery and waiting for his flight back to the States. Within a week, he was transported to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD where he received both inpatient and outpatient treatment for approximately 18 months. On December 24, 2014, Justin was officially retired from the U.S. Army after spending 8 years and 9 months in service to our country.

Since retiring from the Army, Sgt. Burdette obtained his boat captain license, ran fishing charters, and currently is assisting a friend with a guided hunting service. He also participates in precision rifle competitions, takes fellow veterans out fishing, and enjoys spending time with his wife, Beth, and son, Corey (8).

In 2017 for one week, and again in 2018 for two weeks, Justin volunteered to drive the Military Order of the Purple Heart’s “Purple Heart Truck” on its journey across the nation.  In typical humility, when asked whether he needed a truck himself, he replied “I would love to have it, but wouldn’t want to deprive anyone who needs it more from getting the truck.”