Hundreds Say Bye To Fallen Airman At Funeral

Against the gray blackdrop of overcast skies, hundreds paid their respects and said bye to Airman Danny Sanchez, who was killed in combat in Afghanistan about a week ago.

“Danny had more heart than anybody I know,” said SSG Dale Douglas. “He never, ever, ever quit, always tried his hardest. He was one of the best guys I’ve ever known.”

Douglas was one of dozens of airman who traveled from Florida to honor Sanchez at his funeral at Fort Bliss National Cemetery.

Loved ones wore special red, white and blue pins with Sanchez’s picture to honor the airman they said died doing what he loved most – serving his country.

“He was attached to a team of green berets and they were conducting combat operations in Afghanistan and during those combat operations he was mortally wounded by enemy fire,” Douglas said.

The 23-year-old Montwood High School graduate had been stationed in Afghanistan since June.

“Personally, it was an honor to train him, to train with him,” Douglas said. “He was just a great guy and a great teammate and it’s gonna be hard without him. He was one of the guys you would want everyone else to be like. We’re all gonna miss him dearly.”

Sanchez leaves behind his mother, a younger brother, and a girlfriend, for whom his family said he had just purchased an engagement ring.