Staff Sergeant Daniel M. Morris, 28, of Clinton, Tenn.,
died Nov. 25 in the Diyala province, Iraq, of injuries suffered
when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.
SSGT Morris was a seven year veteran who
recently re-enlisted for another four. He arrived in Iraq
in mid-September for his second tour in Iraq. He was assigned to 1st Squadron, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort
Hood, Texas.
SSGT Morris was born on May 15, 1978. He graduated from Clinton
High School in 1996 and joined the Army in 1999, graduating from AIT
at Ft. Benning, Georgia. Daniels first unit was 3rd Platoon, C Company, 2nd BN, 2nd Infantry Regiment,
1st Infantry Division in Vilseck, Germany
where he served as a rifleman
and a Bradley Operator. After that he was stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas with 2-7 CAV where he served as a Bradley Gunner
and a Team Leader. He served with A Co 2-7 CAV during OIF II as a Team Leader in Taji, Iraq. He then served with
A Co 1-12 CAV as a Squad Leader, and was deployed to Iraq for a second tour. Morris was a graduate of the Primary Leadership
Development Course, the Modern Army Combatives Course and the Combat Lifesaver Course.
SSG Morris’
awards include the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, The Bronze Star, The Purple Heart, The Army Commendation Medal, Army
Achievement Medal (four oak leaf clusters), and The Army Good Conduct Medal (one knot).
His parents, Glenn and Amy Morris, said that
since he was a child, their son had always wanted to be a soldier. He believed in God and country and planned to go to college
to become a minister when he got out of the service.
Glenn Morris said his son re-enlisted because
he had a "soft spot for the Iraqis."
"Not only was he my brother and a father
and a son, he was the best man I've ever known," said SSGT Morris's 25-year-old sister. "He wore the weight of the world on
his shoulders every day."
SSGT Morris leaves behind a 10-year-old daughter,
Alexys. Survivors also include his parents, a sister, a brother, and his grandparents.
Funeral services are set for Saturday, December
2 at Holley Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton, TN. Burial with full military honors will be in Oak
Ridge Memorial Park on Sunday.
In lieu of flowers, family members are asking
for contributions to a fund set up for his daughter, Alexys Morris, at ORNL Credit Union. 1117 N. Charles Seivers Blvd Clinton, TN 37716. Phone number: (800) 676-5328
. An address listed here previously was for the wrong branch! This one should be the correct one. Sorry
about that!
Two other soldiers in the vehicle, SGT
Eric Nunn and SPC Eugene DeNeutte, were wounded and are recovering. PV2 Brad Griffith who was in the same vehicle but fortunately uninjured pulled the others from the wreckage.
see HEROES
