THE HOBNOB-DESTIN NEWS

1 October, 2010             Destin’s Hippest News Source

HURLBURT FIELD — Senior Airman Daniel Sanchez lived life the way his mother always told him.

“He danced,” Yvette Duchene said after Tuesday’s memorial service for her eldest son. “I always used to tell him life is a dance. Just enjoy it. Words can’t describe how proud I am.”

In a somber memorial service for one of their happiest combat controllers, members of the Hurlburt Field’s 23rd Special Tactics Squadron shared how Sanchez danced through their lives.

More than 1,000 people listened in the echoing hangar to accounts of the bold, adventurous 23-year-old from El Paso, Texas. Sanchez died Sept. 16 at a medical facility in Tarin Kwot, Afghanistan, after he was wounded by enemy fire. He was a few weeks into his first deployment.

Twice that Thursday, Sanchez helped convoys under attack by relaying locations for air strikes. He was awarded four posthumous medals Tuesday, including the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal with Valor. The medals were presented to his family.

Master Sgt. Jonathan Gilbert, the 23rd’s team sergeant, remembered Sanchez’s enthusiasm while he trained. Sanchez would come into Gilbert’s office and just sit there with a grin on his face. Gilbert would ask him what he wanted.

“And he would just say ‘Whenever you’re ready, say the word. I’m here whenever you’re ready,’ ” Gilbert recalled.

He said Sanchez will be added to the list of warriors who made the 23rd what it is.

“I’m a firm believer that it’s the man who makes the beret, not the beret that makes the man,” Gilbert said.

Like the airmen who came before him, Sanchez was a strong, capable man who did what he knew was right in his heart, Gilbert said.

In a lighter moment, a letter written by Staff Sgt. Gary Cobb, one of Sanchez’s closest friends, was shared. Cobb is currently deployed.

From taking road trips to asking for special favors, Cobb said Sanchez always managed to talk people into doing what he wanted.

Sanchez once called Cobb to give him and some friends a ride home. Cobb ended the call saying, ‘no’ and Sanchez said ‘okay’ and hung up the phone. When the group asked Sanchez if Cobb was coming, he said, ‘yes.’ Without further coaxing, Cobb reluctantly was on his way within 10 minutes after the call.

“Words cannot begin to describe how much Danny will be missed. Danny was the best friend anyone could have,” Cobb said.

Gilbert said Sanchez was smiling down on everyone. He advised the mourners to live like Danny did.

“Be the man that he became,” Gilbert said. “And then when it gets tough, smile.”