Peter was based in Camp Prosperity, inside the Green Zone in Baghdad. Since December, we have sent more than three tons of supplies to soldiers on that base, and throughout Iraq and Afghanistan with money raised for the Unsung Hero fund.

We sent so much that CPT Bryan Smith, the chaplain in Pete’s unit, established the “Peter Burks Country Store” on Christmas Eve 2007. Here is the story CPT Smith wrote about the store:

The Store That Love Built:

“Greater love hath no man then this, than a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13. On November 14, 2007, 2LT Peter H. Burks gave his life for his friends, the men of 4th Platoon, Palehorse troop 4th Squadron 2nd Calvary Regiment. His family, fiancée and friends were stunned and grieved by the news of Peter’s death. As a chaplain, I expected this response from those who knew Peter so well. It was what happened next that neither I nor the men of Palehorse troop could have ever imagined. Peter’s family, his mom, Mrs. Jackie Merck, his dad, Mr. Alan Burks, his stepmom, Mrs. Laura Burks and fiancée, Miss Melissa Haddad, fought their way through their own personal grief and rallied an entire community to support our troops. We began to receive care packages in the mail from people in Texas, from towns and communities I had never heard of before, towns like McKinney, Frisco, Duncanville, Celina and Garland. And the packages kept on coming. It wasn’t long we had received over two hundred care packages for our Soldiers. As I prayed and thought about how I could best honor the memory of Peter and show my appreciation to all those people in Texas whose cards and gifts kept coming in, it hit my mind that I should open a country store in Pete’s honor. So with the support of my Commander, LTC Antonio Aguto Jr., we celebrated the grand opening of the “Peter Burks Country Store” at Forward Operating Base Prosperity here in Baghdad on Christmas Eve 2007. Two hundred and twenty five Soldiers came by in two hours and picked up food, clothing, hygiene and gift items from the store at absolutely no cost. We also gave out several door prizes that people had sent us such as: Xbox controllers, CD’s, DVD’s and CD players. We continue to open the store twice a week and Soldiers can come by and get whatever they want for free. As I think now of the store, the sacrifice and the love that 2Lt Peter Burks had for his men and the kindness of some people in Texas, I can’t help but weep. The Peter Burks store truly is the store that love built.


Peter’s unit has since moved to a very dangerous region outside of Baghdad. CPT Smith still operates the store, and also hand delivers goodies to soldiers at other Combat Operation Posts (COPs). As you can imagine, these are not nice places to live, and every bit of love keeps the soldiers smiling. They are always thrilled to get a taste of home.

CPT Smith and the soldiers also deliver humanitarian supplies to schools and needy families.

Read the testimonials.