Staff Sergeant James N. Burnett

Our Hometown Heroes

James N. Burnett

Killed in Action in New Guinea

James N. Burnett was a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Burnett never knew when he enlisted on July 28, 1942, he would be sent to some of the fieriest fighting World War 2 had ever seen. Stationed in New Guinea, SSgt. Burnett was born October 8, 1920. He was part of a bomber squadron fighting in the South Pacific Theater of the war.

Married to Dorothy D. Burnett, Staff Sgt. Burnett had been overseas since March, 1944. He was killed in action on September 24, 1944. His mother, Mrs. R. L. Burnett, who lived on Randall Street in Griffin, received the telegram of her son’s death. Burnett is buried in the Mount Nebo Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Taylor County.

Although Burnett did not come home alive, a community now honors the World War 2, soldier. An individual plaque honoring Burnett will be installed in Historic Downtown Griffin. The plaque is sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. Quimby Melton III.