John W. "Bill” Burris, Jr enlisted in the United States Navy in 1987 and served 20 years as an Interior Communications Electrician serving on the USS Puget Sound (AD38), USS Belknap (CG26), USS Kearsarge (LHD3), USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) as well as shore stations at Indian Head Maryland NWSC, NAS Sigonella Sicily, and Great Lakes Illinois Instructor Duty.

During his service, he deployed on nine deployments and has lived in or pulled liberty in 55 countries. He has earned several commendations and achievement medals. His VFW qualifying medals are Navy Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, and the GWOTEM earned when the commands he served on was called into action in the Persian Gulf, Mediterranean, and the Indian Ocean to support ground troops and other ships in the Fifth and Sixth fleet.

After retiring from the military, John transferred his acquired skills into a professional career in research and development at Baldor, ABB, and now Vertiv/E & I Engineering in Anderson County, SC. He is still active with the church, scouts, and several fraternal non-profit organizations. John holds bachelor’s degree from The Citadel, the military college of SC and from Excelsior College. In addition, a master’s degree from Walden University.

Answering an ad in the base paper to join the VFW for Veterans of Foreign Wars at Post 706 in Pensacola, Fla 2000 while on Active Duty. He then transferred to VFW Post 3219 in Hampton, Va. And eventually returning home to Possum Kingdom, SC and joining VFW Post 9273 in Moonville, SC holding positions as Chaplain, Jr Vice, Sr Vice, and Post Commander. District Jr Vice and Sr Vice.

John is a Life Member of the VFW, married to Harriett Burris of Iva, South Carolina. He has three children William, Benjamin, and Bethany; two stepchildren Megan and Robin; and 13 grandchildren.