Tributes

This Memorial Page Established by-Tristan and Trinity Burge, Rosalie Gower
In Honor Of SSG Jerry C. Burge Jr
In Loving memory of our father and our friend you will never be forgotten.

July 17, 2011
SSG John Arp (Retired)
I was deployed with 2-8 Cav (Armor) in Iraq and was wounded the first time on 28 April of
2004.  After returning to Fort Hood we became a Combined Arms Battalion, we sent two tank
companies to 2-5 Cav (Infantry) and they sent two Mech Infantry Companies to us.  One of
those grunts was SSG Jerry Burge, he and I worked together in the S3 shop and he was my
battle buddy.  I was unable to deploy with my unit in 2007 as I was recovering from three
surgeries that MEB'd me out of the Army and made me a 100% disabled vet.  It was the most
horrible feeling to see the guys go off without me and just kept getting worse as I would learn
from week to week or month to month of another fallen friend.  It was especially difficult to
hear when SSG Burge was killed in action in April 2007 due to an IED, three years to the
month after my first experience being wounded by a mortar round.  I took it very hard as I felt
I should have been there, like as if that in any way cool!
d have changed anything.  Jerry was a good friend and I never met another soldier in my life
who just absolutely LOVED being a soldier like he did, and he was especially happy to be an
infantryman.  I have a picture of Jerry and I next to each other in formation as our CABs were
being issued, and of course many memories of our days in 2-8 Cav together.  I will always
remember my friend and his infectious smile and happy to be a soldier attitude, he died doing
what he loved.  He told me once that if he had to die, he would rather die a soldier in combat.  
Jerry, I miss you my brother, shot em in the face.... HOOAH

September 09, 2010
Allison Wheat
In Honor Of Jerry "Chip" Burge Jr.
My name is Allison Wheat, I teach U.S. history in Picayune, MS.  I would like to share a story
of a wonderful group of students and a tradition that has started at our school.

Four years ago, in the small town of Picayune one of our own was killed in Iraq.  In May of
2006, Army Staff Sgt. Jerry Clark Burge Jr., who was a member of the 1st Cavalry Division,
was killed in the line of duty.  On the day that Sgt. Burge was buried, there was a procession
down the main “drag” in town.  Because our high school and junior high are located near the
street, our administration allowed us to take our students to the procession.  As the hearse
came by, one could literally hear a pin drop, which was remarkable for over 1500 teenagers.
When the procession was over, where my classes were standing, also happened to be
several members of the local VFW post.  I took this moment to explain to the students who
the gentlemen were and what their pins etc. stood for.  All of a sudden, one of my female
students just walked over to one of the gentlemen from the VFW, grabbed his hand, shook it,
and said, “Thank you”.  Then, without being told the rest of my students and another teacher’
s students followed.  When our classes were finished, there were tears in the eyes of one of
the gentlemen.  His wife asked him if he was ok, and he replied, “Better than I have been in a
long time”.  Our students heard this exchange, and as we walked back to class there were not
many dry eyes among us.  Back in class, the students told me they wanted to do something
honoring veterans and members of the Armed Forces.  Within two weeks, we had organized a
reception, in which veterans and members of the Armed Forces could come and sit down at
tables with our students and share their experiences.  Our first year we had 13 Veterans,
2007, 47 Veterans and members of the Armed Forces attended, 2008, 79 Veterans and
members of the Armed Forces attended.  On November 6, 2009, there were 125 Veterans and
members of the Armed Forces.  We also had the Camp Shelby Armed Forces Museum, and a
group of Civil War re-enactors.
This is one of the most remarkable experiences that I have ever had as a teacher.  Our
students sit down, and listen intensely as these men and women recount the stories about
their lives and reluctantly how they shaped America.  Our students talk about this for months,
after.  They are now inviting family members whom they know will enjoy this experience.
I just wanted to share this remarkable story with you of how people from different
generations can sit and talk with each other.  I also wanted to extend an invitation to you to
join us on November 5, 2010.
Thank you for your time,
Allison Wheat
601-590-1068 or 601-798-1380
allecat@charter.net
Staff Sgt. Jerry C. Burge
United States Army
KIA 04 April 2007, Iraq
Sign Guestbook
39, of Carriere, Miss.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat
Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died April 4 in Taji, Iraq, of wounds sustained when
an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Also killed was Army Cpl. Joseph H.
Cantrell IV.