Named in Honor of Danny Dietz Jr.
January 26, 1980 - June 28, 2005
Born in Aurora, Colorado, Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Danny Dietz Jr. enlisted in the Navy in 1999. He earned the SEAL Trident in 2001 and was subsequently assigned to SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team Two in Virginia Beach, VA. In 2003, Dietz deployed with his Special Reconnaissance element to Afghanistan to support Naval Special Warfare Squadron Ten and the prosecution of the Global War on Terrorism.
On June 28, 2005, SEAL Team Ten was assigned to kill or capture a high ranking Taliban leader in the Hindu-Kush Mountains. They were spotted by anti-coalition sympathizers, who immediately reported their position to Taliban fighters. A fierce gun-battle ensued and a responding Chinook helicopter was shot down, killing eight SEALs and eight Army Night Stalkers along with Danny’s SEAL team members Michael Murphy and Matthew Axelson.