Mallory McCoy BURT

     
     Mallory McCoy BURT was born on 2 April 1921 in Cedar Grove, Bibb County, Alabama, son of Irby Leon BURT and Birdie Clyde WATTS.^1,2
     Mallory McCoy BURT appeared on a census, enumerated 15 April 1930, in the household of Irby Leon BURT and Birdie Clyde WATTS in Beat 2, Bibb County, Alabama.³ He witnessed the burial of George Weaver WATTS in Scottsville Cemetery, Bibb County, Alabama. As an adult, he operated a farm in West Blocton.
     Mallory served in the U. S. Navy during World War II from 1942 to 1945. He enlisted 10 Jul 1942 as a seaman second class. He trained at San Diego, California before being sent to the quartermaster school in Newport, Rhode Island. He then attended amphibious training in Virginia. He was assigned as a signalman 2nd class on a Landing Craft Tank version 5. The LCT(5) was 117 long by 32 feet wide. It had a crew of one officer and 12 enlisted men. It could land up to four tanks or could also be used to land troops. It was generally carried to the landing site onboard a LST (Landing Ship Tank) or could be transported in three sections aboard a freighter. Mallory served in the D-Day Invasion in LCT Flotilla 4 at Utah Beach under Lt. Cmdr. Louis E. Hubbard. One of the duties of the signal man in combat was as pointer for one of the LCT's two 20mm canons. His ship was probably also used to transport wounded troops from the battle. Following Normandy he spent the remainder of the war in naval training centers at Chicago and the Great Lakes. He was honorably discharged 19 Oct 1945. He received the American Campaign medal, WWII Victory Medal, Amphibious Force Insignia, and European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.⁴ He was living on 22 March 1945 in 14th Regiment, Bld. 1400, Camp Moffett, Great Lakes, Illinois. His rank was Seaman 2nd class.
     Mallory married Johnnie Ruth HARRISON on 10 April 1945 in West Blocton, Bibb County, Alabama. The Rev. W. D. Bolving officiated. The bride's parents were Benjamin Asbury Harrison and Clara Bell Lyon of Piper, Alabama.⁵
     Mallory McCoy BURT witnessed the obituary of George Edsel BURT on 12 April 1945 in the "Centreville Press". The article read: "Pfc. GEORGE BURT KILLED IN ACTION: Pfc. George E. Burt, son of Mr. and Mrs. I. L. Burt, of West Blocton, was killed in action in the service of his country, crossing the Rhine March 4th [sic], 1945. He was a graduate of West Blocton High School and entered the service in 1943. He was serving as a paratrooper and flew from England on January 1st, with the 17th Airborne Division. He was survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. I. L. Burt, of West Blocton, four sisters, Mrs. John K. Brown, Oxnard, Calif., Mrs. Kenneth Dale, Praco, Ala., Mrs. Earl J. Kilby, Woodville, Va., and Wynelle Burt, West Blocton, Alabama; and four brothers, Mallory M. Burt, Great Lakes, Illinois; Vincent, Vernon [sic] and Billy Burt, of West Blocton.⁶
     Mallory McCoy BURT died on 31 January 1999 in West Blocton, Bibb County, Alabama, at age 77.^1,2
     His obituary appeared 2 February 1999 in the "Birmingham News". It read: "Mallory McCoy Burt, age 77, of West Blocton, died Sunday, January 31, 1999. Funeral services will be Wednesday, February 3; at 11 AM at Rockco's Funeral Home, Centreville with burial in Southern Heritage Cemetery, Pelham. Visitation will be Tuesday, February 2, 6 PM until 8 PM. Survivors: wife, Johnnie Ruth Harrison Burt of West Blocton; son, Mallory Dan Burt of Birmingham; daughters, Landra Marlene Jennings of Oneonta and Owanna Ruth Victory of Charlotte, NC; brothers, Vincent A. Burt and Varner L. Burt, both of West Blocton; sisters, French B. Brown of Prattville, Ferry B. Dale of Adamsville, and Wynell B. Welch of Gadsden; eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Rockco's Funeral Home of Centreville directing.".⁷ He was buried on 3 February 1999 in Southern Heritage Cemetery, Pelham, Jefferson County, Alabama.