Burns, Edward J., 1stSgt

According to the 1940 Federal Census,, then Cpl, Burns was serving at Wheeler Field with the Base Hq, and 18th Air Base Squadron.

1st Sgt. Edward Burns served with the 72nd Pursuit Squadron, at Wheeler Field, Oahu, Hawaii. (MOS 585 1st Sgt.)

He was killed in action at Wheeler Field during the Japanese naval aircraft attack on the base north of Pearl Harbor.

He was initially interred in the Schofield Barracks Cemetery on Oahu, Hawaii,  then re-interred in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Hawaii (1949).

Those killed from the 72nd Pursuit Squadron, Wheeler Field:
Edward J. Burns, 1st Sgt
Malachy J. Cashen, Cpl
Dean W. Cebert, Pvt
William C. Creech, PFC
James Everett, SSgt
Paul B. Free, SSgt
Joseph E. Good, SSgt
James E. Guthrie, SSgt
Robert L. Hull, Pvt
George G. Leslie, Pvt
John A. Price, SSgt

Notes/Links:

Note:  Father, John J. Burns, Pittsfield, Massachusetts according to news release of 9 December 1941.
https://www.nps.gov/valr/learn/historyculture/us-army-air-forces-casualties.htm
http://genealogytrails.com/ww2/PearlHarborCasualties01.html
http://www.navsource.org/Naval/usaaf.htm
http://www.coulthart.com/134/mos.htm (MOS)
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=103441676
ancestry.com  (6144931)

LR.. Arakaki and J.R. Kuborn,  7 December 1941: The Air Force Story, Pacific Air Force, Hickham Air Force Base, Hawaii, 1991.

Edward J. Burns was born 8 June 1917 in Pittsfield, Bershire county, Massachusetts to John J. and Margaret Burns.  Records indicate that he had four years of high school but little else is known of his early life. The 1940 census has him as a corporal with the 18th Air Squadron at Wheeler Field, Hawaii.
On 7 December 1941 he was a First Sgt with the 72nd Pursuit Squadron at Wheeler Field, Hawaii.  Wheeler Field was home of the 14th Pursuit Wing located nine miles from the north shore and 12 miles from the south shore at Pearl Harbor; civilian spotters standing on the shore could provide less than five minutes warning of any enemy planes.  With rumor of war abounding, aircraft were disarmed and parked in a tight anti-saboteur formation; moved out of protective cover, massed close together in the middle of the apron -- so they would be easier to protect.  Ammunition was locked in the hangers to prevent it from being stolen.  There were no anti-aircraft batteries as they would be useless against saboteurs and there were no air raid shelters.  Before 8:00 am that peaceful Sunday morning of 7 December 1941 when the Japanese bombers flew across Wheeler Field, no one paid much attention; the Navy and Army would often drill in the skies over Hawaii, dropping flour sacks instead of bombs as well as buzzing barracks.  People in the area felt the same until the strafing began and the wing tips tilted to show the Rising Sun.  Over 100 aircraft were damaged, bullets ignited fuel tanks allowing a river of fuel across the tarmac, setting one plane on fire after another.  Hanger lockers were broken into to provide the ammunition needed for whatever defense could be had.  Thirty-nine were killed with 59 wounded, the heaviest from the barracks and tents along the runway.  No one expected the attack.  By mid-afternoon, some of the planes were able to take to the air.  With even 20 minutes warning, things would have been different.
1st Sgt. Edward J. Burns (Service Number 6144931) is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii.  He received a Purple Heart, WW II Victory, American Campaign, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign and Good Conduct medals, as well as the Army Presidential Unit Citation for his service.  (The Air Force was part of the army until 1957).
 
This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org).  This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen saved on Together We Served and Fold3.  Can you help write these stories?   to this, there will be a smartphone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story.
SOURCES: Pearl Harbor Ghosts by Thurston Clarke; HonorStates.com;Ancestry.com; Find-a-Grave memorial