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Lt. Col. Daniel Beatty, an '86 Vinton alum, speaks to the Bronco Brigade this week.

Dear Soldiers:

Please, please don't let the bad guys come to our house. Thank you for protecting me.

Love,

Lael, 4 years old

That gut-wrenching note from an Afghanistan boy is one of the memories that soldiers of the U.S. Army 25th Infantry Division's Bronco Brigade (officially known as the 3rd Brigade Combat Team) are bringing home with them this month after a year in that war-torn country.

Among those soldiers is Lt. Col. Daniel Beatty, a 1986 Vinton graduate.

Beatty, the son of Garth and Pat Beatty of rural Vinton, was one of several Bronco Brigade members to receive the Bronze Star in honor of their efforts in the dangerous area of Jalalabad for the past year.

"We usually don't know why or how these medals are given," says Pat Beatty.

Lt. Col Beatty is very "tight-lipped about his mission," says his mom.

The Bronze Star ceremony took place this week at the FOB (Forward Operating Base) Fenty in Jalalabad. Bronco Brigade Commander Col. Robert Kim presented the medals to Beatty and several others.

The Bronco Brigade lost several soldiers during their year of deployment; several more were wounded in battles with Taliban fighters or injured when IEDS exploded near them or their vehicles.

The Beattys are glad to know their son and his unit are heading back to Hawaiivery soon.

"He should be back at his Hawaii post with 25th ID by the end of the month," says Pat Beatty.


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Comments (10)

Thank you for your service Lt. Col. Beatty and the many others!!!
By: Matt Salger on March 15th 9:14pm
God Bless them for their service!!
By: on March 15th 9:57pm
Good Job Dan. You've made your family and nation very proud!
By: Jim Williams on March 16th 1:33am
HE SHOULD HAVE A STREET NAMED AFTER HIM. Chances are he would object, but any of the guys serving over thee deserve all the recognition they can get.
By: Steve Smith, Clermont, Fl on March 16th 8:47am
Lt. Col Beatty, Thank you for your service.
By: Diane Schmuecker on March 16th 9:12am
I am proud to know the Beatty family.
By: Don Eells on March 16th 5:30pm
Thank you, Dan, for keeping our house safe as well. Congratulations on your medal and for a job well done.
By: Jeanne And Ted Mann on March 17th 10:09pm
Thank you for your service, Lt. Col Beatty!
By: Erika Hodgson on March 19th 10:24pm
GREAT JOB DAN!!!! But I must tell you, I am not surprised. See you soon!

Uncle Jim
By: Jim Thompson on March 23rd 8:31am
The more heroic the soilder, the meeker they seem to be. We are all so in awe and full of gratitude to you and your family Dan....Thank you.
By: Sandra Beatty on April 9th 5:59pm

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