TL;DR
- Donna Burhans lost her son in the Iran war.
- She finds solace in nature and talking to his memory.
- Burhans supports military action and trusts Trump.
- Her son was posthumously promoted to major.
- Neighbors and community honor her son’s legacy.
In the quiet corners of Winter Haven, Florida, Donna Burhans walks her family’s sprawling 35-acre farm, a landscape that now feels both comforting and haunting. More than a month has passed since her son, Maj. Cody Khork, was killed in the Iran war, and while the world spins on, her heart remains tethered to his memory.
“If I sit inside and dwell on his death, I get too upset,” Burhans, 67, confesses, her voice a blend of sorrow and strength. So, she ventures outside, surrounded by the gentle company of cows, horses, dogs, cats, and pigs, talking aloud to Cody as if he were still there. “They’re good listeners,” she chuckles, a bittersweet smile crossing her face. “I start talking to Cody, or I start talking about him. He was a hero. I’m so proud of him. It just helps.”
Maj. Cody Khork, just 35 years old, was one of the 13 Americans who lost their lives in the U.S. war with Iran. His journey ended on March 1, the second day of the conflict, when a drone strike hit a port in Kuwait. Alongside five other Army reservists, he fell victim to a war that has sparked heated debates and deep divisions across the nation.
For Burhans, military life was a family affair. With a father who was a Marine, Cody grew up on military bases, where he developed a passion for service from a young age. “He loved it from Day One,” she recalls. “I love that the Army gave him a chance to do what he loves to do.” His nickname, “Twig,” was a playful nod to his slender frame, which allowed him to hide behind a telephone pole during paintball games. But the military was no game for Cody; it was his calling.
After his passing, Burhans found comfort in her faith and in the leadership of President Donald Trump. “Trump knows what he’s doing. He knows exactly what he’s doing, and he’s doing everything the way it’s supposed to be done,” she said, her voice steady with conviction. She had the chance to meet Trump during a dignified transfer ceremony in Dover, Delaware, where the remains of her son and other service members were returned home. “You could tell when he walked into the room that he was distraught,” she reflected. “He had his head down. And he was just a normal, caring person.”
At that poignant moment, Burhans expressed her desire for her son’s sacrifice to mean something. “I wanted him to know that I do not blame him. I do not blame anything that’s happened for my son’s death. I told him to finish it. I said, ‘Go get ’em.’ This is what my son signed up for.”
As the community rallies around her, local businesses have stepped up to honor Cody’s memory, with a barbecue restaurant providing meals for events celebrating his life. Florida Southern College, where he studied, has established an ROTC scholarship in his name, ensuring his legacy will endure beyond the battlefield.
In the face of unimaginable loss, Donna Burhans stands resolute, a mother proud of her son’s service, navigating her grief with the help of nature, community, and an unwavering belief in the path forward. As she continues to speak to Cody in the fields, she reminds us all that love, even in loss, remains a powerful force.
https://www.youtube.com/nbcnews