COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, USA U.S. Army SSG, HHB, 3RD ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT, FORT CARSON, CO 80913 AL FALLUJAH, IRAQ 11/02/2003
28 year-old SSG Daniel Bader of York, Neb.; assigned to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Tiger Squadron, Fort Carson, Colo.; killed Nov. 2, 2003 in an attack on a CH-47 Chinook helicopter near Fallujah, Iraq.
He joined the National Guard shortly after graduating from high school, going through basic training when he was 17 and joining the Army when he was 18.
“He loved it, absolutely loved the military,” his wife said. “He was excited. He wanted to serve his country. I was terrified.”
He left with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment for Iraq on April 4. He specialized in anti-aircraft work but was sent to war against an enemy that lacked an air force. He and his troops adapted, learning security tasks that included guarding U.S. convoys. The soldiers of Predator Battery proved just as effective in their new role; not one supply convoy even had a rock thrown at it.
It was the Fourth of July, and Predator Battery was going to hold a barbeque with whatever it could find. No one knows where Daniel came up with the 150 chickens, or the salad, or the baked potatoes. He was well known for caring for the troops under his command and took responsibility for providing dinner to 180 soldiers in Iraq.
He is survived by his wife Tiffany and daughter.