Army Sgt. Daniel Lee Galvan
Daniel Lee Galvan fell in
love with helicopters as a child and spent his days playing with
toy helicopters and drawing pictures of them. Later in life, he
continued building helicopter models that he left everywhere.
"He more than loved
helicopters and there are not many people in their lifetimes who
can say that they accomplished what they loved and that they
fulfilled their dreams," Galvan's widow, Sonya, said yesterday
through Army officials. "Daniel's family can stand tall and say
that Daniel did. He lived his dream."
Sgt. Galvan — a helicopter crew chief — became
the third Schofield Barracks soldier killed in Afghanistan this
year when his unit's UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed near
the Pakistan border on Thursday, injuring 14 other soldiers.
Galvan, of Moore, Okla., was assigned to the 2nd Battalion
(Assault), 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Infantry Division
(Light).
Yesterday, at her Schofield Barracks home,
Sonya Galvan was surrounded by friends, children at play, two
dogs and flowers and cards, as she told Army officials how she
wanted her 30-year-old husband to be remembered.
Most importantly, Galvan told them, she wanted
people to know that "my husband didn't join the military for a
paycheck."
"He joined because he believed in the cause.
He believed in the military. And he was proud to wear the
uniform and honored to be an American."
Galvan was born in Fort Ord, Calif., the son
of a soldier. He enlisted in 1996 and was assigned to Schofield
Barracks in June 2002.
"First and foremost, he was and still is a
true American soldier," Sonya Galvan said. "Daniel was a
believer in our rights as Americans and our Constitution to be
free. ... Daniel always knew from such a young age what his
calling was — to be a soldier."
Galvan was passionate about serving his
country, but also loved Sundays when he rode his motorcycle
around O'ahu with a group of riders.
"He was extremely adventurous," Sonya Galvan
said.
There was also a compassionate side to her
husband.
"We would have 100 animals here if (it) was up
to him. There was so much about him that my words cannot even
begin to express."
Daniel and Sonya married five years ago. He
leaves two children, Audrey, 13, and Joseph, 11.
"He loved life, loved his family, loved to
make people laugh — he was a joker," Galvan said.
"He loved to play fun practical jokes with his
daughter and son and even me at times. That was one thing that
kept this family very close — never a dull moment with him."
The Army is planning a private prayer service
at Schofield Barracks sometime next week. There will also be a
memorial service in Afghanistan
