Fort George G. Meade: The First 100 Years

Kelly Pool to Burba Lake
THE SIXTIES AND VIETNAM
213
Gen. Edwin H. Burba, deputy commanding general,
First Army, at Fort Meade, was a man ahead of his time
in loving his community and the environment. An avid
hiker, skier and owner of horses, Burba enjoyed natural
settings, green space and respected the environment. He
lived across from what was then called Kelly Pool in the
late 1960s to early 1970s, a time when the carcasses of
dead birds could often be seen floating in the lake. Burba
remained involved with the installation and often said he
was determined to preserve Kelly Pool as a natural lake
and wildlife area. He worked closely with Department of
Public Works to employ measures to improve the lake
that are still in use today.
Gen. Burba was close friends of my parents Col. and
Mrs. Carl G. Witte. They enjoyed numerous recreational
vacations together and shared their love for the outdoors.
In Oct. 29, 1970, I was a college student watching the
news and heard the tragic story of Gen. Burba’s death.
He was traveling to Morehead, Kentucky, through heavy
rain and fog when the twin-engine plane he was riding
in went down, killing him along with two chief warrant
By Lida-M H. Payne
officers. His aide was critically wounded in the accident.
My parents called me immediately, wanting to spare
me learning of the accident from the news. Even though
the call came late, we still reminisced about our family
friend. They had Gen. Burba’s walking stick in their home
resting against the wall. That stick now sits in my home as
a gentle reminder of what a wonderful man he was, how
he touched our family’s lives and those he served. Kelly
Pool’s name changed to Burba Lake in honor of Gen.
Burba.
***
(Pg. 210–211) 6th ACR fires their 76mm gun during night
exercises in an M41 tank.
(Above left) Burba Lake is stocked with fish each year and
is the location of the annual Fishing Rodeo fishing contest.
(Lower left) The man-made Kelly Pond, now Burba lake,
was drained and cleaned in 1998 in an effort to restore its
environmental balance.
(Below) Burba cottage, constructed in 1937, is still a venue
for parties, meetings and other events.