Captain, USS WISCONSIN  3/3/51-2/22/52

Burrowes born in Brooklyn, New York and was appointed to the US Naval Academy from the 13th Congressional District, New York City. Following his graduation from the Academy in 1925, he was “shaken down” aboard the battleship USS WEST VIRGINIA and later became a turret officer. During World War II Captain Burrowes commanded the destroyers O’BRIEN and ABNER READ. While commanding the O’BRIEN, he earned a commendation from Commander-in-chief Pacific Fleet for having successfully returned that destroyer to port in August 1942, with no loss of life, after its torpedoed bow had been blown off. He participated in the Aleutian campaign, taking part in the assaults on Attu and Kiska as commanding officer of the ABNER READ. While at Kiska the READ’S stern was blown clear by a mine but she was successfully towed 3,000 miles to a US shipyard. Later he took command of Destroyer Division 106 with the USS YARNALL as his flagship. Because his division of destroyers performed their duties with outstanding success as one of the Navy’s first radar picket screens during the First Battle of the Philippine Sea, Captain Burrowes was awarded the Silver Star Medal. After the war, he was given command of a naval task unit at Eniwetok during the atomic tests in 1948. His services there won Captain Burrowes a letter of commendation from the Secretary of the Navy.

Prior to receiving orders as prospective Commanding Officer of the USS WISCONSIN in February 1951 he was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. In addition to the Silver Star and two citations, Captain Burrowes’ decorations included the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Star medals and the respective area campaign ribbons. He was also awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit medal for commanding the WISCONSIN and task elements during operations in the Korean War zone. The Gold Star was conferred upon him by Commander SEVENTH Fleet.