Historical Articles | Market House Museum

Did you know Paducah was home to several admirals in WWII? William Burch was the son of William O. and Elizabeth Metzler Burch. He was born June 27, 1904, and attended public schools, entering Annapolis in 1923. Burch was involved with raids on the Marshall and Gilbert Islands, Salamaua Lae and in the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway. He and his squadron were deadly in carrying out direct hits upon Japanese ships. He later served on the USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) as its Executive Officer. There he earned his third gold star by directing the fire detail when the ship suffered the effects of a suicide bomber striking the vessel. His clothing caught fire twice during this episode, and he was wounded by shrapnel. He refused to go to sickbay. Pieces of the shrapnel continued to give him discomfort until his death at his home, which occurred January 21, 1989. The Market House Museum has been given the uniform and insignia of Burch by a family member, to be featured in a military exhibit at the new Museum.


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	Historical Articles Click on any of the links below to read about historic Paducah and the people that shaped it! The Flight that Fell From the Sky The House That Hamburgers Paid For Courage in Action: A Sailor’s Story “Outlaws Before the World”- The Jewish Eviction of Paducah The True Story of Sister Mary Lucy Dosh Rudy's Department Store Paducah Dairies of Long Ago Market House Museum The Naval Career of "Jumpin" Joe Clifton Vice President Alben William Barkley Irvin Shrewsbury Cobb The List Drugstore Woodwork Paducah's General Lloyd Tilghman	Did you know Paducah was home to several admirals in WWII? William Burch was the son of William O. and Elizabeth Metzler Burch. He was born June 27, 1904, and attended public schools, entering Annapolis in 1923. Burch was involved with raids on the Marshall and Gilbert Islands, Salamaua Lae and in the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway. He and his squadron were deadly in carrying out direct hits upon Japanese ships. He later served on the USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) as its Executive Officer. There he earned his third gold star by directing the fire detail when the ship suffered the effects of a suicide bomber striking the vessel. His clothing caught fire twice during this episode, and he was wounded by shrapnel. He refused to go to sickbay. Pieces of the shrapnel continued to give him discomfort until his death at his home, which occurred January 21, 1989. The Market House Museum has been given the uniform and insignia of Burch by a family member, to be featured in a military exhibit at the new Museum.