Today as I write this in remembrance of a brother, my heart is really saddened.
I write about many whom I never knew and I am thankful for each and every one
of them. Danny I knew but for such a short time, in fact only 19 days. He was
one of those God allows for a season and definitely a reason. This man had so
much "Character"! He was a good-looking, dark haired young man who showed great
humility and concern for his fellow soldier. He showed this towards all of us
who came into the platoon before his death. Some guys are a little standoffish
to new blood. You have to prove you belong and to some that would seem wrong,
but to the ones serving as the "Elite", (and Danny was such a man), they would
have it no other way. Danny though had a spirit of love, a gift if you will, towards
his fellowman, whether you had been in the unit or just arrived. He was able to
make you feel at ease and you wanted to listen to the lessons he was passing along,
not as a braggart, but to help. He use to carry a big knife and always had it
with him. We had a tree in our area, which he used to practice knife throwing.
There was always a crowd around him wanting to learn how to throw the knife. His
reputation then, as it is today in the memory of all who knew, is one of great
reverence. Sadness falls upon those that knew Danny, But they will also have a
joy of having known him and the fawn memories of his being. I say it every time;
they only die when we forget to remind others and ourselves. To the family that
has had to bear the loss of Danny, we offer our heart felt thanks for standing
strong. Many who enjoy real freedom have been affected by the great contribution
Danny gave towards our freedom. He is still dearly loved and missed, even to this
day. Lord, we who knew Danny are so thankful you allow us to be graced by his
being among us. We his brothers of like spirit, a spirit that says, all peoples,
of all nations should enjoy the right to live free and choose for themselves.
Danny stands out to us and to the world as a symbol of the price of freedom. Your
word says, "no greater love has a man than to give his life for a friend". Danny
did just that! He forsook self-preservation for others to live. Having saved Ron
Coon he moved to save his team leader who was seriously wounded. In his attempt
to do so he was mortally wounded. Danny acted out of love, a love that required
no contemplation but rather action. Surely it never crossed his mind at the moment
that he would come to be known as a "HERO". We thank you for men and women like
our brother, who thought it not too much to give his life for another to live.......
Lord, this day give comfort to those loved ones that have been all these years
without him. Help them to know he is at rest with you and "Warriors" of like kind.
May we never forget our freedoms were bought by the blood of others. Lord regardless
of our belief, help us as we remember Danny and the many like him to consider
the following words of wisdom; to love the Lord our God with all your heart, soul,
mind , and strength and secondly to love our neighbor as our self. Truly acceptance
and application of this wisdom by all peoples of the world, is to see war and
all other atrocities against humanity end! May our hearts be charged to honor
the sacrifices of such men and women as Danny, with a continuous and sincere effort
to promote peace on earth.
Bob Smyers |
