It was Daniel’s grandfather who first inspired his service to our country.
“My grandfather was a WWII paratrooper and POW [prisoner of war] who had an incredible Army career. I spent a lot of time with him before he died and was always proud of his days serving as a paratrooper,” he said.
In Daniel’s 15+ year career in the Army, he served on deployments to Kosovo, Iraq, Latin America, and Afghanistan, where he sustained injuries during two separate incidents — first during a firefight when Daniel was shot by enemy forces. The gunshot wound and surrounding shrapnel required multiple surgeries and rehab, all completed while Daniel remained in Afghanistan.
Post-recovery, he finished his deployment and later returned to Afghanistan, where his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device (IED) during a combat patrol. The blast ripped the vehicle in half and rendered it useless. While waiting to be recovered, Daniel lost his left leg and severely damaged his right leg after stepping on a subsequent IED. He was medevaced to safety before returning to the States, where he was reunited with his family and first encountered Semper Fi & America’s Fund.
“I was approached by Semper Fi & America’s Fund and heard about their mission. After being welcomed into The Fund family, we’ve been honored and humbled to be a part of something much bigger than ourselves. It’s been an absolute honor to serve alongside of them as well as being recipients of their amazing programs.”
Since then, Daniel and his family have participated in numerous Fund events such as Christmas parties, virtual painting classes, school backpacks/ supply give-a-ways, Chik-Fil-A lunches, virtual food classes, and Saturday breakfasts with fellow veterans. The Fund also ensured that Daniel and his family had everything they needed during the COVID-19 pandemic and as they experienced harsh winter storms in their home state of Texas.
“Semper Fi & America’s Fund have been absolutely critical in helping keep our family front and center post-injury, recovery, and post-transition. The case managers and team members do so much, not only for us as veterans but also for our families. We appreciate everyone who has been with us every step of the way … Thank you can never be enough.”
Daniel’s plans for the future include staying connected with other families of wounded service members and remaining fit and active. He’s also in the process of starting a honeybee business alongside his wonderful family. Together, they enjoy spending time outdoors and playing music together — their strong bond, endless resilience, and selfless sacrifice serving as the inspiration for those around them to live a life full of service.