Dan the Man

Dan could easily be your forty-something next door neighbor. The father of your child's best friend. He's a clean cut family man. With a wife and two kids. Who lives in the suburbs. And has a Golden Retriever. He goes to church on Sundays. And is athletic. He coaches soccer. And works in tech. Mr. All American. Living the American Dream.

Dan spent his childhood years in Florida and from there went to West Point. After that he served as an Army Ranger who earned a MacArthur Leadership Award and was deployed in nine countries. Post-Army he went to HBS. And got into tech. Where we all became friends.

On October 12 Dan leaves for Iraq. Where he will serve our country again. For 13 months. By choice.

When my husband asked Dan why a forty-something like himself was returning to the active military Dan replied, "It's my duty. When I left the Army I made a conscious decision not to resign my commission in case something like this happened."

You are our hero, Dan.