DDALLAS, TX, USA U.S. Army 2LT, TROOP P, 4TH SQUADRON, 2D CAVALRY, VILSECK, GM BAGHDAD, IRAQ 11/14/2007
“When I die, give what’s left of me away to children and old men that wait to die. And if you need to cry, cry for your brother walking the street beside you. And when you need me, put your arm around someone and give them what you need to give me. I want to leave you something. Something better than worlds or sounds. Look for me in the people I’ve known and loved, and if you cannot give me away, at least let me live in your eyes and not in your mind. LOVE DOESN’T DIE; people do. So, when all that’s left of me is love, give me away.”
This piece by Merrit Malloy describes who Second Lieutenant Peter H. Burks was. The piece is part of Peter’s fianceé, Missy Haddad’s tribute to Peter.
Army 2nd Lt. Peter H. Burks, died Nov. 14 when his vehicle was hit just outside the Green Zone in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany. He was twenty-six years old.
Peter’s life demonstrated the vitality of love even to the end. The last thing Peter asked was if his men were okay. A graduate of Trinity Christian Academy in Addison and Texas A&M University, Peter tried the corporate world, but was so drawn to serve his country that he went through Officer Candidate School in 2006 and was deployed to Iraq soon after. He was a Stryker Platoon Leader.
Peter’s love, caring and deep Christian values inspired the start up of the “Peter Burks Country Store” first established at FOB Prosperity, Bagdad Iraq and closed when his unit “the Saber Soldiers” left Iraq. It was later re-opened in Peter’s honor in southern Kandahar province, Afghanistan. The Country Store provides free goodies to soldiers in the area as well as those returning and recovering. To keep the Country Store stocked the “Peter Burks Unsung Heroes Fund” was established and www.unsungerofun.org explains what goodies are available for appreciative soldiers.
Second Lieutenant Peter Burks marked many with his brand of love during his travels through his life. His vibrant and caring spirit continues to nurture his father, his mother, his fiancée; three sisters; a brother; a grandmother and a grandfather.