Navy SEAL Danny P. Dietz Jr., 25, was buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery, a few miles from where he graduated from Heritage High School in Littleton.
Maria Paz Leveque Dietz, wife of Navy SEAL Danny P. Dietz Jr.
A gunner’s mate serving his second hitch, Dietz died June 28 in Afghanistan, although his body was not recovered until the Fourth of July. He was mourned Thursday as a hero who fought to the end to defend himself and his three commando teammates surrounded at nightfall in mountains.
“I think he wouldn’t have wanted to die any other way but being a hero,” said Melody Dominguez, of Denver, a cousin. “That was what DJ would have wanted,” calling him by his nickname, formed from the “D” in the first name and the “J” in Jr.
Dietz was honored as a fallen warrior, in the full pomp of formalized grief and gleaming gold braid of a military funeral. But speakers at his funeral service and at the cemetery celebrated the love and sacrifice that colored his life.
“Most people scarcely know what love is,” said the Rev. Jerrien Gunnink, retired pastor at the First Christian Reformed Church in Denver, where 275 attended a private funeral.
“Sacrificial love is laying down your life,” Gunnink said after the service. “That’s real love – sacrificing your life for someone else, and that’s what (Dietz) did.”
Dietz and the three other SEALs were searching for Taliban-led rebels and al-Qaida fighters when they radioed for backup, setting in motion a grievous chain of events.
[…]”We are so very, very proud of our son,” Dietz’s father and mother, Danny Sr. and Cynthia, said in a written statement released for their family at the cemetery. “He was doing what he loved, and he was GOOD at what he was doing. His shoes are going to be hard to fill – if they ever will be.”
[…]Patsy Dietz also released a statement, saying her “soul mate is not lost. He is waiting to see me one day again.”
[…]He had only known his future wife, Patsy, a few weeks when he told his best friend that he was going to propose. His best friend urged him to wait.
“He said he knew he was going to spend the rest of his life with her, so there was no reason to wait,” his friend recalled.
Patsy Dietz is the stepdaughter of a SEAL senior officer. Her mother set up the date after meeting Dietz at a party.
In a letter she read at memorial services in Virginia, his wife recalled the butterflies she felt the first day they met. “I remember getting lost in your dark eyes.”
Dietz’s best friend recalled Thursday how Dietz proposed.
“He said, ‘Please marry me, and I will serve you the entirety of my life.”‘
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Alex Bitz
17 years ago
Tiffany Dietz, DJ’s sister, is now my wife – nearly 8 months after DJs passing we got married. I say from the bottom of my heart that it fills our hearts with warmth to read a blog posting such as this – knowing DJ has made enough of an impact around the world to be blogged about in such an honorable manner. Indeed, DJ was a man of great honor and we are proud that such an incredible person has touched us, even for just the little time that he did. Thank you for your posting on DJ. I’ll be sure to share it with the rest of the Dietz family. -Alex Bitz
Paul Falkenstein
15 years ago
To the Dietz Family,
Words cannot begin to express my gratitude for such an incredible sacrifice that all of you and Danny have lain upon the alter of freedom. I can only aspire to be half the man that he was and to display a fraction of the grace that you all have shown.
In loving ribute to Danny and his teammates, I have become an Ambassador for the Naval Special Warfare Foundation and have worked tirelessly to educate and honor the brave men and their famillies of our SEAL and SWCC communities.
On June 28, 2008 I recognized only one of the promises I silently made to the men of Spartan 01. I was able to get Senator McIlhinney and Congressman Murphy from the State of Pennsylvania to officially recognize June 28th as Naval Special Warfare Day in tribute to Danny and his comrades. In addition, my hometown of Bucks County has also named this day in honor of them. As the citations were being read, everyone in the audience stood with their hands over their hearts and many wept openly. I’m truly not ashamed to tell you that as the citation was being read, I stood quietly off to the side and felt the tears stream down my face.
Every year now on June 28th, I will make sure that my hometown and the State of Pennsylvania uphold what Danny and his teammates stood for. We will mark this day with honor and pride. I will work every day to get all fifty states to do the same.
If you would be so kind to pass along a message to Mrs. Dietz…
Mrs. Dietz, you have become my hero along with Danny. I think of you often and send to you my strenght and support. You are not just a fallen heroes wife…You are the embodiment of what it truly takes to make the caliber of man that Danny was. The world is a better place because of you. If there is anything I can ever do for you and your family, please say the word. With my deepest gratitude and respect, Paul.
Tiffany Dietz, DJ’s sister, is now my wife – nearly 8 months after DJs passing we got married. I say from the bottom of my heart that it fills our hearts with warmth to read a blog posting such as this – knowing DJ has made enough of an impact around the world to be blogged about in such an honorable manner. Indeed, DJ was a man of great honor and we are proud that such an incredible person has touched us, even for just the little time that he did. Thank you for your posting on DJ. I’ll be sure to share it with the rest of the Dietz family. -Alex Bitz
To the Dietz Family,
Words cannot begin to express my gratitude for such an incredible sacrifice that all of you and Danny have lain upon the alter of freedom. I can only aspire to be half the man that he was and to display a fraction of the grace that you all have shown.
In loving ribute to Danny and his teammates, I have become an Ambassador for the Naval Special Warfare Foundation and have worked tirelessly to educate and honor the brave men and their famillies of our SEAL and SWCC communities.
On June 28, 2008 I recognized only one of the promises I silently made to the men of Spartan 01. I was able to get Senator McIlhinney and Congressman Murphy from the State of Pennsylvania to officially recognize June 28th as Naval Special Warfare Day in tribute to Danny and his comrades. In addition, my hometown of Bucks County has also named this day in honor of them. As the citations were being read, everyone in the audience stood with their hands over their hearts and many wept openly. I’m truly not ashamed to tell you that as the citation was being read, I stood quietly off to the side and felt the tears stream down my face.
Every year now on June 28th, I will make sure that my hometown and the State of Pennsylvania uphold what Danny and his teammates stood for. We will mark this day with honor and pride. I will work every day to get all fifty states to do the same.
If you would be so kind to pass along a message to Mrs. Dietz…
Mrs. Dietz, you have become my hero along with Danny. I think of you often and send to you my strenght and support. You are not just a fallen heroes wife…You are the embodiment of what it truly takes to make the caliber of man that Danny was. The world is a better place because of you. If there is anything I can ever do for you and your family, please say the word. With my deepest gratitude and respect, Paul.