Lieutenant General Allen M. Burdett, Jr., served successively during two decades of dynamic Army Aviation growth and achievement in increasingly demanding aviation command and staff positions thus bringing great credit upon himself and greatly enhancing the role of Army Aviation on the modern battlefield.

From his initial rating as an Army Aviator in June 1960, to the time of his retirement as Commanding General, Fifth Army, General Burdett did it all and did it well, setting standards of excellence along the way for all who lead and follow the helicopter, flying to the "sound of the guns."

In 1960, under his leadership as Director of Aviation Combat Developments at Fort Rucker, AL, much of the original thought was born on equipment, organization, and doctrine leading to the tests of the Air Assault Division.

Later, while Principal Assistant on Air Mobility to the ASA (R&D) for three years, some of the most significant aviation development and acquisition decisions were made by DoD. With the close of his initial Vietnam tour as 11th Aviation Group commander, he returned to OSD as Military Assistant to the Director of Tactical Warfare Programs, again lending great insights and wisdom to key defense hardware decisions vital not only to the Army's efforts in Vietnam, but also to the Army for years to come.

In a subsequent Vietnam tour, he commanded the 1st Aviation Brigade during 1968-1970, tough and demanding years in the Vietnam war, where as "Hawk 6" he was known throughout Vietnam for his astute planning and tactical acumen.

Moving onward and upward he became the Director of Army Aviation at DA and later the CG of the Aviation Center where in each of these positions, he played a key role in not only training and readying the force of the day, but preparing the force of tomorrow, through key studies and doctrinal developments for the Army of the '80's.