American Legion Commander looks back at military career, forward at future of Post 10

American Legion Post 10 Commander Brian Burdine speaks during a Memorial Day ceremony in May, 2021. Burdine's career in the military lasted more than 30 years and took him across the country and world. (News-Times file)
American Legion Post 10 Commander Brian Burdine speaks during a Memorial Day ceremony in May, 2021. Burdine's career in the military lasted more than 30 years and took him across the country and world. (News-Times file)

Brian Burdine took over as commander of American Legion Post 10 after a more than 30-year career in the Armed Forces that took him across the country and overseas.

Burdine is modest about his service, which included time in the National Guard, Army and Army Reserves; but when he talks about working with the American Legion, his pride in his work is clear.

"I love it. I wouldn't do it if I didn't like it. I've got some good friends there. People are happy with us since I took over," he said in late October.

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted operations at the Legion significantly last year, and continues to in some ways. One of the organization's major outreach programs, Burdine said, are the visits members pay to fellow veterans that reside in nursing homes; those have been put on hold indefinitely to prevent the spread of the virus in such facilities, he said.

"I've got a good friend who's a vet in a nursing home that I haven't gotten to see in a good while," Burdine said. "Right now it's not possible with all this stuff going on. I would love to get this stuff going again."

The Legion's primary mission is to help veterans in any way members can. That can range from giving vets a place to meet and talk with other veterans to holding fundraisers or other awareness campaigns for veterans' issues. Burdine said members at Post 10, the local American Legion headquarters, also try to give back to the community where possible.

"We're basically there for vets, to help vets if we can. That's what it's for," he said. "Since the pandemic, we haven't had a whole lot to do, haven't had the money to do what we want. I think that's how it is all over."

However, the American Legion's annual Veterans Day commemoration ceremony is still set to take place on Nov. 11, followed by lunch at Post 10, and Burdine said he is looking forward to being able to honor local vets in that way.

A path laid out

Burdine's father served in the military during World War II, in Germany; so it seemed only natural to Burdine that he should join up too.

"My dad had died when I was just fixing to turn 14, and I always had Army pictures of him. I said, one day I'll be like him, join the military and serve my time," Burdine said. "It was my Christmas present for my recruiter; he was my ex-boss."

He joined the National Guard on Dec. 20, 1978, where he worked in combat support and infantry with the unit in Magnolia, Burdine said. Later, he moved to work in supplies, which he continued in throughout his career.

"The National Guard in Magnolia, it was one of the best Guard units in the state of Arkansas at that time. I knew everybody there, and it was one of the top ones," he said.

He eventually transferred to other units, including in Russellville, Arkansas; Little Rock; Fort Hood, in Texas; Fort Sam Houston, in Texas; and Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he was a supply sergeant. Additionally, he worked in New Mexico for a border mission.

"I actually worked with the Border Patrol in their office," Burdine said. "I did a lot."

Around 2004, when Burdine was in the Army, he was stationed in Iraq, where he still served in supplies. Eventually, he was injured, and he was taken to recover at a hospital in Germany -- in the same city his father had been stationed in during his service, Burdine said.

"I actually got to go to the place where he was stationed at when I was over in Germany," he said. "It was nice. It was like a vacation to me."

Burdine returned stateside following his injury, and joined the Army Reserves full-time. In 2009, he retired from the Armed Forces.

"I didn't think I'd stay in 30 years, but I did," he said with a laugh.

Now, Burdine works as a truck driver, but not for much longer. He's planning to retire in December, at which point he'll go to spend time with his son and grandchildren in Fort Leavenworth.

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