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Danny Dietz

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Danny Dietz
Dietz in Afghanistan
Birth nameDanny Phillip Dietz Jr.
Born(1980-01-26)January 26, 1980
Aurora, Colorado U.S.
DiedJune 28, 2005(2005-06-28) (aged 25)
Kunar Province, Afghanistan
Buried
Fort Logan National Cemetery
Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Allegiance United States of America
Service / branch United States Navy
Years of service1999–2005
Rank Gunner's mate, Second class
Unit U.S. Navy SEALs
Battles / warsWar in Afghanistan
Awards
Spouse(s)
Maria L. Dietz
​
(m. 2003⁠–⁠2005)​

Danny Phillip Dietz Jr. (January 26, 1980 – June 28, 2005) was a Navy SEAL who was awarded the U.S. Navy's second highest decoration, the Navy Cross, along with the Purple Heart, for his actions during the War in Afghanistan.

Early life and education

Dietz was born on January 26, 1980, in Aurora, Colorado to parents Cindy and Danny P. Dietz Sr.[1] He was of Apache ancestry.[2] He graduated from Heritage High School in Littleton in 1999.[3]

Career

A picture of Dietz's uniform on display with his brother and sister viewing it, 2006.

Dietz enlisted in the 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 Station Great Lakes, Illinois. 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 was deployed with his Special Reconnaissance component to Afghanistan to help Naval Special Warfare Squadron TEN in the indictment of the Global War on Terrorism.[3]

Operation Red Wings

Main article: Operation Red Wings

Operation Red Wings was a counter-insurgency operation by the United States Armed Forces to kill or capture Ahmad Shah, (code name Ben Sharmak), a known terrorist and head of the militia, "Mountain Tigers". The operation was carried out, on 27 June 2005, by Navy SEAL Team TEN; the four-man team was made up of 2nd Class Matthew G. Axelson and 2nd Class Marcus Luttrell supporting the role of snipers while 2nd Class Danny P. Dietz and team leader Navy Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy were spotters.[4]

The mission was compromised after goat herders stumbled upon the SEALs and reported them to the Taliban after the SEALs let them go free. An intense firefight ensued after the SEALs were ambushed by Taliban insurgents who outnumbered them twenty-five to one.[5] Murphy went into an open clearing to get reception and call for support, he managed to reach the base, giving them the SEALs location as well as the number of enemies. Exposed to enemy fire, he was shot in the back while making the call, it was this act that awarded Murphy the Medal Of Honor posthumously.[5] Murphy then returned to his team to continue the battle. Low on ammunitions, Murphy, Axelson and Danny Dietz were killed while Luttrell was knocked unconscious by an RPG.[5]

The support dispatched was a team of eight Navy SEALs and eight 160th SOAR Army Night Stalkers. However, all sixteen special forces soldiers aboard the helicopter perished, when the CH-47 Chinook was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade that ignited the fuel tanks just as the soldiers were about to fast rope.[6] Among the dead aboard the helicopter were Lieutenant Commander Erik S. Kristensen, the highest-ranking officer to die in the operation, and Kip A. Jacoby, the youngest soldier to die in the operation, at the age of 21.[7]

SEAL Marcus Luttrell was the sole survivor of SEAL Team TEN, aided by an Afghan villager who sheltered him, he was rescued by green berets six days later.[5] Danny Dietz, Matthew Axelson and Michael Murphy were declared killed in action after their bodies were recovered on 4 July.[8]

Death

Dietz was mortally wounded after taking the brunt of the initial attack. This led to him losing the ability to walk, and as a result, Luttrell carried him on his way up the mountain, while Dietz responded to him. This rigorous activity was repeated several times until Luttrell accidentally turned him into a bullet, as Luttrell was about to fall. The bullet penetrated the back of his head and killed him instantly, Dietz's dead weight came as a surprise to Luttrell and as a result, he fell over the edge of the mountain with Dietz's body and was seriously injured.[9]

Dietz's body was found by a group of U.S. Air Force pararescuemen during a search and rescue operation, on 4 July 2005, and returned to the United States.[10] Dietz was buried with full military honors at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.[11]

Personal life

Dietz is survived by his mother Cindy, Father Dan Sr, sister Tiffany and brother Eric.[3]

Dietz was known to show appreciation towards the outdoors and he enjoyed fishing and rock climbing.[3] He had a black belt in Taekwondo from the Korean Academy of Taekwondo.[3]

Awards and decorations

U.S. military decorations
Navy Cross
Purple Heart
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
Combat Action Ribbon
Bronze star
 National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star
Bronze star
 Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
U.S. badges, patches and tabs
Naval Special Warfare insignia
Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia
A close up image of Dietz's statue on display.

On September 13, 2006, Dietz was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross by Navy Secretary Donald C. Winter.[12]

Citation

For extraordinary heroism in actions against the enemy while serving in a four-man Special Reconnaissance element with SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE, Naval Special Warfare Task unit, Afghanistan from 27 to 28 June 2005. Petty Officer Dietz demonstrated extraordinary heroism in the face of grave danger in the vicinity of Asadabad, Kunar Province, Afghanistan. Operating in the middle of an enemy-controlled area, in extremely rugged terrain, his Special Reconnaissance element was tasked with locating a high-level Anti-Coalition Militia leader, in support of a follow-on direct action mission to disrupt enemy activity. On 28 June 2005, the element was spotted by Anti-Coalition Militia sympathizers, who immediately revealed their position to the militia fighters. As a result, the element directly encountered the enemy. Demonstrating exceptional resolve and fully understanding the gravity of the situation and his responsibility to his teammates, Petty Officer Dietz fought valiantly against the numerically superior and positionally advantaged enemy force. Remaining behind in a hailstorm of enemy fire, Petty Officer Dietz was wounded by enemy fire. Despite his injuries, he bravely fought on, valiantly defending his teammates and himself in a harrowing gunfight, until he was mortally wounded. By his undaunted courage in the face of heavy enemy fire, and absolute devotion to his teammates, Petty Officer Dietz will long be remembered for the role he played in the Global War on Terrorism. Petty Officer Dietz' courageous and selfless heroism, exceptional professional skill, and utmost devotion to duty reflected great credit upon him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for the cause of freedom.[13]

Legacy

A picture of Dietz's statue unveiled in 2007 with his family viewing it, his wife is on the corner right followed by his sister, mother, brother and father.

On July 4, 2007, the town of Littleton, Colorado erected a bronze lifesize statue of Dietz holding his rifle in a 'parade-rest' position on one knee. It contained the same statement on the Navy Cross citation.[14]

On August 18, 2009, the span of South Santa Fe Drive between Interstate 25 and Colorado State Highway 470 was named Navy SEAL Danny Dietz Memorial Highway in his honour.[15][16]

Starting in 2010, the Danny Dietz Memorial Day Classic is a fundraiser / rodeo event held the weekend of Memorial Day at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds in Rosenberg, Texas.[17] [18]

For the 2013 film Lone Survivor, which covered the events of Operation Red Wings, Dietz was portrayed by actor Emile Hirsch.[19]

See also

List of people from Littleton, Colorado

Further reading

  • Luttrell, Marcus (2007). Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10. Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 978-0-316-06759-1.

References

  1. ^ "Danny P. Dietz". United States Navy SEALs. 2008. Archived from the original on October 27, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  2. ^ Cordell, Kasey (July 4, 2015). "A Warrior's Creed". 5280. 5280. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Danny P. Dietz's Career". Travis Manion Foundation. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  4. ^ Kessler, Morris (February 4, 2014). "Lone Survivor: What Really Happened During Operation Red Wings". Esquire. Esquire. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d United States. Congress (2011). Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of May 24, 2011. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 7784. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  6. ^ "LT MICHAEL P. MURPHY USN". United States Navy. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  7. ^ Widener, Laura (June 28, 2020). "11 SEALs, 8 Army Night Stalkers killed 15 years ago today in Operation Red Wings". American Military News.
  8. ^ Wilson, Jamie (July 12, 2005). "Navy Seal's body found after failed Afghan mission". The Guardian. Guardian News & Media Limited. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  9. ^ "Survivor". 60 Minutes. CBS News. 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  10. ^ Starr, Barbara (August 11, 2005). "Navy believes video shows SEAL's ID, weapon". CNN. CNN. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  11. ^ "Ultimate sacrifice won't be forgotten". The Denver Post. 2005. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  12. ^ Garamone, Jim (2006). "Two SEALs Receive Posthumous Navy Cross Awards" (Press release). American Forces Press Service. Retrieved April 11, 2019 – via United States Navy.
  13. ^ "Danny P. Dietz Navy Cross Citation". Danny Dietz Foundation. 2006. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  14. ^ "Danny Dietz Memorial Sculpture". City of Littleton website. 2007. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  15. ^ "South Santa Fe span dedicated to honor slain Littleton SEAL". The Denver Post. 2009. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  16. ^ "Highway signs unveiled in honor of Dietz". Littleton Independent. 2009. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  17. ^ "Navy SEAL widow's Memorial Day event honors America's fallen". Fox News. 2017. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  18. ^ "Danny Dietz Memorial Day Classic honors the fallen". Fort Bend Star. 2017. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  19. ^ "Movie 'Lone Survivor' Features Story Of Littleton's Danny Dietz". CBS4. Denver, Colorado. January 5, 2014. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
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