Service/branch United States Navy Name Danny Dietz | Years of service 1999–2005 | |
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Birth name Danny Phillip Dietz, Jr. Born January 26, 1980Aurora, Colorado, U.S. ( 1980-01-26 ) Buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, Colorado, U.S. (39°38′57″N 105°03′10″W / 39.649162°N 105.052890°W / 39.649162; -105.052890Coordinates: 39°38′57″N 105°03′10″W / 39.649162°N 105.052890°W / 39.649162; -105.052890) Allegiance United States of America Rank Gunner's Mate Second Class Spouse Maria Dietz (m. 2003–2005) Parents Danny Phillip, Sr, Cindy Dietz Similar People Matthew Axelson, Michael P Murphy, Marcus Luttrell, Ahmad Shah, Chris Kyle | ||
Littleton history moment danny dietz
Danny Phillip Dietz, Jr. (January 26, 1980 – June 28, 2005) is a United States Navy SEAL who was killed in the War in Afghanistan. He was posthumously awarded the U.S. Navy's second highest award for valorous actions in battle, the Navy Cross, on September 13, 2006.
Contents
- Littleton history moment danny dietz
- In Honor of Navy SEAL Danny P Dietz
- Personal life
- United States Navy
- Operation Red Wings
- Legacy
- Awards and decorations
- In popular culture
- References
In Honor of Navy SEAL Danny P. Dietz
Personal life
Dietz was born on January 26, 1980 in Aurora, Colorado, the son of Danny Phillip, Sr. and Cindy Dietz, and the brother of Tiffany and Eric. In 1999, he graduated from Heritage High School in Littleton, Colorado. He then went into BUD/S and got stationed in Virginia Beach, VA where he met his wife Maria (Patsy) and married her in 2003. He had two dogs that he adored, Nox (Tosa Mastiff) and Murphy (English Bulldog). He enjoyed the outdoors, spearfishing, and rock climbing.
United States Navy
Dietz enlisted in the U.S. Navy on August 31, 1999. Following his graduating from Recruit Training Command, Naval Station Great Lakes, on November 27, 1999, he completed Gunner's Mate "A" School at the Naval Air Technical Training Center in Pensacola, Florida. From there he transferred to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training and graduated with Class 232 in 2001. Dietz went on to attend the Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning in Georgia, then SEAL Qualification Training and SEAL Delivery Vehicle Training. Immediately upon checking in at SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on November 8, 2001, he was assigned to Task Unit Bravo as the secondary SDV pilot and the Ordnance and Engineering Department head. In April 2005, Dietz deployed with his Special Reconnaissance element to Afghanistan to support Naval Special Warfare Squadron TEN in the prosecution of the Global War on Terrorism.
His larger than lifesize bronze memorial in Littleton, Colorado was created by sculptor Robert Henderson of Canon City, Colorado. The South Wing of the Pacific Beacon Apartments at Naval Station San Diego is named Dietz Hall as well.
Operation Red Wings
Dietz was part of an elite team of four SEALs on a reconnaissance mission "tasked with finding a key Taliban leader in mountainous terrain near Asadabad, Afghanistan," according to a U.S. Navy news release.
On June 28, 2005, SEAL Team 10 was assigned to kill or capture a high ranking Taliban leader in the Hindu Kush mountains. The SEAL team was made up of Michael P. Murphy, Marcus Luttrell, Danny Dietz and Matthew Axelson. Luttrell and Axelson were the team's snipers while Dietz and Murphy were the spotters.
According to the U.S. Navy, the team was "spotted by anti-Coalition sympathizers, who immediately reported their position to Taliban fighters. A fierce gun-battle ensued between the four SEALs and a much larger enemy force with superior tactical position". The SEALs radioed for help, and a responding Chinook helicopter was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade, killing eight more SEALs and eight Army Night Stalkers. It was the second worst single combat loss for the U.S. Navy SEALs in their history. Dietz was the first casualty of the battle, and was killed before the helicopter's arrival.
Legacy
The location of Dietz's body was unknown for seven days after his death. His remains were recovered during a combat search and rescue operation on July 4, 2005. Dietz's body was returned to the United States, where he was interred with full military honors. His hometown of Littleton, Colorado, honored his memory by erecting a statue of Dietz in uniform holding a carbine, which was unveiled on July 4, 2007. This was not without controversy however. Local parents, suggesting that the statue of Dietz glorified violence, tried to have the statue altered. The statue, they argued, was three blocks from a school. The Littleton city council stated that 150 emails and letters were received in support of keeping the memorial as is, there was only one in favor of changing it.
A section of Santa Fe Drive (U.S. Highway 85) between I-25 and C470 has been named the "Navy Seal Danny Phillip Dietz, Jr. Memorial Highway."
Awards and decorations
Dietz earned 1 Service stripe.