Colonel Colin R. Burlingame, USAF retired, passed away on and sailed away on November 2, 2014 and went to a better place to be with God. The only son of the late Ray and Margaret Burlingame of Newport Beach, California. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Ena M. Burlingame of Universal City, Texas. His early years at Newport Beach and Balboa, California were spent sailboat racing, surfing, long distance swimming and working as a deck hand at sea. He worked as a radio announcer for one of the “Big Bands” at the then famous Rendezvous Ballroom at Balboa, California. He attended the college of the Pacific where he majored in music and radio production. Colonel Burlingame joined the US Navy within weeks after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and advanced to the rank of Chief Petty Officer; Chief Boatswains Mate. His Navy Duties included anti-submarine patrol, armed guard school instructor in seamanship to Navy gun crews on Merchant Marine ships and troop transport duty in the South Pacific. He was awarded Bronze Battle Stars for the New Guinea Campaign, Layte Gulf and the Liberation of the Philippines followed by the occupation duty in Japan. As a senior chief in charge of a seagoing fleet tug operating in the Sea of Japan, he received a Navy Commendation for rescue operations. Following Navy service, he served as a regular Army NCO, followed by attendance at Officer Candidate School at Lackland AF Base, Texas and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in December 1948 – Class 48-B. He was later selected for appointment in the Regular Air Force. His assignment after OCS was Assistant Wing Adjutant at Keesler AF Base, Mississippi. He later served in French Morocco and Germany. A “Mustang” and proud that his grandfather Reasilis G. Burlingame served on the Union side in the Civil War as a corporal and was later discharged “by reason of gun-shot fracture received in battle”. His father Ray G. Burlingame served as an infantry private during the Spanish American War. Colonel Burlingames’s assignment following Command College was at Pacific Air Forces {PACAF} Headquarters as a member of the Inspector General Operational Readiness Inspection Team “The Bearcats”. They inspected Air Force combat units in the Far East and Southeast Asia. Other assignments included Director of Personnel – 12th Flying Training Wing at Randolph AF Base, Texas, Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel at HQ 15th Air Force, March AF Base, California and Director of Personnel 475th Air base Wing, Yokata Air Base, Japan. Both he and Mrs. Burlingame enjoyed assignments together in French Morocco, North Africa, Germany, Hawaii and Japan. He continued college work with the University of Maryland and overseas program in Germany. His Navy and Air Force decorations included the Combat Action Ribbon, the Legion of Merit, and five other decorations for meritorious service. Colonel Burlingame retired at Randolph AF Base on 1 November 1974. Subsequent to AF retirement, he spent several years in the baking business. He served as a councilman in the city of Universal City and was active in the Randolph Metrocom Chamber of Commerce for over 20 years. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at Colonial Funeral Home. Graveside service and interment will be held on Thursday, November 13, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of choice and the City of Universal City Animal Shelter known as “Homes for the Homeless”. PO Box 3081, Universal City, Texas 78148
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