Marines honor fallen comrade

Photo By Cpl. Mark Garcia | Marines with Bravo Company, 2nd Tank Battalion, pay their final respects to Cpl. Daniel L. Linnabary II during a memorial ceremony in the sweltering Afghanistan sunlight, Sept. 1. Linnabary, 23, from Hubert, N.C., was a tank gunner with 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company, 2nd Tank Battalion. He was killed Aug. 6, while conducting combat operations in Now Zad District. This was his first deployment to Afghanistan. During the ceremony, commanders and friends spoke of the man and Marine Linnabary was and what they would remember most about him.  

COMBAT OUTPOST SHIR GHAZAY, AFGHANISTAN

09.02.2012

Story by Cpl. Mark Garcia 

Regional Command Southwest

COMBAT OUTPOST SHIR GHAZAY, Afghanistan – On a sunny, somber Saturday morning in Afghanistan, more than 100 servicemembers gathered to pay their final respects to Cpl. Daniel L. Linnabary II, a fallen brother, during a memorial ceremony in the sweltering Afghanistan sunlight, Sept. 1.

During the ceremony, Marines constructed a battlefield cross, which consisted of a Kevlar helmet with identification tags to signify they will never forget Linnabary; an upside down rifle with a bayonet signifying a time of prayer and a break in action to pay tribute; and a pair of boots signifying this was Linnabary’s last march.

Linnabary, 23, from Hubert, N.C., was a tank gunner with 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company, 2nd Tank Battalion, when he was killed Aug. 6, while conducting combat operations in Now Zad District. This was his first deployment to Afghanistan. During the ceremony, commanders and friends spoke of the man and Marine Linnabary was and what they would remember most about him.

“Losing someone is never easy. Losing Cpl. Linnabary makes that task even tougher,” said Staff Sgt. John Kramer, the platoon sergeant for 2nd Platoon. “Most of you considered Cpl. Linnabary a friend, to me though, he is my son. I would ask that everyone here keep Daniel Linnabary in your hearts and minds, and keep his family in your prayers.”

During the ceremony, Lance Cpl. Nicholas Matareese, tank gunner, 2nd Platoon, reminisced about his time spent with Linnabary.

“Every Marine here has a mentor that took them under their wing and taught them everything they know. Cpl. Linnabary did that for me,” Matareese said. “He was someone who always loved the Marine Corps more than anyone I’ve ever known. He was a great Marine, an amazing tanker and there is no one I’m more proud to call my best friend.”

First Lt. James Nash, the platoon commander of 2nd Platoon, also spoke during the ceremony.

“If Cpl. Linnabary’s parents were here, they’d say that he was a good son, and they’d say that he was a great Marine,” Nash said. “He was loyal, and they’d say his second greatest pride after his daughter, is his service in the Marine Corps. Cpl. Linnabary was a good Marine, he was a great tanker, an excellent gunner, and he was an inspiring leader. I respected him as a man, and I loved him as a brother. Cpl. Linnabary believed in heroes, he believed in the Marine Corps fighting for freedom. As a favor to him, we can continue that fight for the future of his daughter.”

• Date Taken: 09.02.2012
• Date Posted: 09.02.2012 09:34
• Story ID: 94138
• Location: COMBAT OUTPOST SHIR GHAZAY, AF