Hershel Burleson was born on January 29, 1895, in Glen Ayre, North Carolina. Burleson was a farmer in Glen Ayre when he registered for the draft (World War I) in June 1917. He was subsequently inducted into the service in May 1918 and assigned to the 156th Depot Brigade. He was honorably discharged on February 15, 1919. Burleson died on July 2, 1974.