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View a eulogy for Daniel Brian Hyde, USMA '07, who passed away on March 7, 2009.

Daniel Brian Hyde

West Point, 2007

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Adam Nordin on May 30, 2011:

Dan,

Just the other day I was reminiscing with Jason McKay at MCCC about recycling Florida phase of Ranger school. Do you remember that, Dan? How miserable that was?

It has been 4 years, my brother, since those days. Since we officially joined the Long Gray Line and since we joined the ranks of the heroes of America.

There is a photo of us at Ranger graduation. You are in the front of the line, true to form. Your clothes are wet because some friends chucked you in the water. We are all in ACUs. People like Kevin Mott, Chip Heidt, Ben Faw, Ryan Schubert, Jake Cook, and Sean Corbett join us for the event. We each wear our pride: the black-and-gold tab that will forever adorn our left shoulders. And the smiles on our faces are larger than life.

Dan. I want you to know that you are not forgotten. I spent all of 2010 in Afghanistan. It was bad. More than any person could imagine, though I know it wasn't close to the worst. I want you to know that every time I rolled out - EVERY time I left the wire - I saw your face. I reflected on your life and our friendship.

I pushed my men harder than they wanted. I brought them to places and drug them through rougher experiences than they ever imagined. But I did those things for you - for you and all of those who sacrificed for America. I knew that if I did my part NOW, then hopefully some day no other American will ever have to endure such hardships.

For those reasons, I thank you. I thank you for watching over me, for giving me strength in the worst of situations and for giving me the courage to push forward. Dan, I thank you for bringing me home to my family, my friends, and to the country I love. Sometimes I'm unsure that I deserve the life that I have knowing that men like you have fallen before me, but I know that because I'm home I must stay strong and be the voice for those like you who cannot join me in my journey.

Dan. You will always be the best of us. I want you to KNOW that for as long as my heart continues to beat you will not be forgotten.

-Adam

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