Archives > Celina Record > News
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
Burks lose son to roadside bomb Iraq
By Penny Rathbun Staff writer
Celina lost one of its own in the service of our country.
Second Lt. Peter Haskell Burks lost his life in Iraq last week when his vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb. Five of his men were injured and Lt. Burks perished from shrapnel wounds to the head.
“To me Peter was a heroic figure,” said his father, Alan Burks. “He was so disciplined and tough and fearless. He felt called to serve his country. His going into the military was a happy choice.”
Lt. Burks had been known as a team player since he was a child. Another long time Celina resident and family friend, Andy Harvey, coached him along with his own son Ryan in various sports when they were boys.
“Peter was very introspective,” Harvey said. “The times I coached him, it wasn’t like talking to a kid, it was like talking to a 30-year-old. In that manner he was very unique. He wasn’t afraid of the challenge.”
According to his father, Lt. Burks’ first words after he was wounded were “Are you OK?” His first concern was for his men. He died at the scene.
Lt. Burks was born in Atlanta and moved with his family to Dallas in 1987. He graduated from trinity Christian Academy in Addison in 1999. He was a member of the National Honor Society, played football and baseball, and belonged to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
He received a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University in 2003. After college he worked in France for a year as a tour guide. He then returned to the United States and a community relations internship with the Dallas Cowboys and also worked with the Dallas Desperados and FC Dallas in marketing.
He joined the army in 2006 and at Officer Candidate School he was voted president of his class.
He was commissioned in October 2006 and sent to Fort Sill, Okla. He was assigned to the Second Cavalry Regiment in Vilseck, Germany and was sent to Iraq about three months ago.
Alan Burks said his son told him that if the worst happened, “I’m prepared for that because of my faith in Jesus Christ.”
Lt. Burks was engaged to Missy Haddad of McKinney. He is survived by his father and his mother, Jackie Merck of McKinney; three sisters, Alison Burks of Celina, Sarah Burks of Dallas and Georgia Burks of Celina; a brother, Zac Burks of Celina, a grandmother, Irene Merck of Fayetteville, Ga.; and a grandfather, Haskell Burks of Fayetteville. Ga.
The visitation will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at Trinity Christian Academy in Addison. The memorial service will be held at Stonebriar Community Church on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Frisco.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions should be sent to a memorial fund. Alan Burks said that the fund, according to his son’s wishes, will be used to help the children of other fallen soldiers. Details on the memorial fund are pending and will be published in The Celina Record next week.
“We’re so blessed to have friends and community support,” said Alan Burks. “What I’d like people to do is take action. We’ve got young men and women serving in this war. Peter said the military is at war, the country is not. I think it’s important that it becomes personal for everybody.”
Contact Staff Writer Penny Rathbun at Prathbun@acnpapers.com. Post comments online, access this story at www.scntx.com.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: News «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
