John Wilson Burgin was born on May 14, 1918, in Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina. He was the son of Columbus Straley Burgin Sr. and Roxie Lucinda Hoyle Burgin. He was married to Mary Lou Pollard Burgin. He served in the 350th Bomber Squadron, 100th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Technical Sergeant and Top Turret Gunner of B-17 #42-5867 also known as 'Alice From Dallas' during World War II.

On August 17, 1943, during a mission targeting a Messerschmitt aircraft factory in Regensburg, Germany, the aircraft was hit over Belgium, leading to its crash near Genk. Two crew members perished, three were captured as prisoners of war, and five escaped with assistance from Belgian resistance groups, returning to England through the Comet Line, a network aiding Allied service members in evading Nazi capture.

TSgt Burgin evaded capture and passed away on December 13, 1979. He is now buried in the Concord Cemetery, Quitman, Wood County, Texas, USA.

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