Daniel Carl Capitani was a young man from the small country town of McDonald, PA. He died at the age of 20 years and 9 months, just 9 days before Christmas 1969. His parents were devastated by his loss. Daniel is buried near my brothers and we would often run into his parents as they visited his grave and tended his flowers. They lived very close to the cemetery and tried to visit every day. They always kept an American flag on his grave year round.They even had a granite bench placed near his grave so they could sit and reminisce about their son. My mother has used the bench quite often as she has aged.
As the years passed we saw them less often and assumed they weren't well enough to visit any more and now they have both passed on and are buried beside their beloved son.
Danny had a daughter born on July 7, 1969, just 2 months before he was sent to Vietnam, so at least he got to see her for a short time. Tragically, she was killed in a car accident when she was just 39 years old in 2008. The mother of the child also died tragically in 2003 of suicide. So tragic, that this little family suffered so much. Unbelievably, Danny's granddaughter, Danielle Lynn Hertzler, died suddenly at age 19 on May 17, 2019. She was named after him and they both died at such young ages.
Daniel's name can be found on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 15W, Row 62. He died in the province of Hua Nghia, South Vietnam. The town of McDonald, PA lost 2 brave young men. Daniel was the only one of the 58,000+ with the surname of Capitani.
When I visit my brother's graves I pass Daniel's headstone and I touch it and say, "Hi Danny." And if I have an extra flag with me I place it in the holder for him.
Thank you, Danny, for your service and sacrifice.
~~~~~~~~~~
An American Soldier…..
You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door,
Hey, I'm solid, I'm steady, I'm true down to the core,
And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price,
I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice,
And I don't want to die for you, But if dying's asked of me,
I'll bear that cross with honor, 'Cause freedom don't come free.
I'm an American Soldier, an American,
Beside my Brothers and my Sisters I will proudly take a stand.
When liberty's in jeopardy I'll always do what's right.
I'm out here on the front lines, sleep in peace tonight.
Rest in Peace, dear Hero.
~~~~~~~~~~
(excerpt from Toby Keith's song)
As the years passed we saw them less often and assumed they weren't well enough to visit any more and now they have both passed on and are buried beside their beloved son.
Danny had a daughter born on July 7, 1969, just 2 months before he was sent to Vietnam, so at least he got to see her for a short time. Tragically, she was killed in a car accident when she was just 39 years old in 2008. The mother of the child also died tragically in 2003 of suicide. So tragic, that this little family suffered so much. Unbelievably, Danny's granddaughter, Danielle Lynn Hertzler, died suddenly at age 19 on May 17, 2019. She was named after him and they both died at such young ages.
Daniel's name can be found on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 15W, Row 62. He died in the province of Hua Nghia, South Vietnam. The town of McDonald, PA lost 2 brave young men. Daniel was the only one of the 58,000+ with the surname of Capitani.
When I visit my brother's graves I pass Daniel's headstone and I touch it and say, "Hi Danny." And if I have an extra flag with me I place it in the holder for him.
Thank you, Danny, for your service and sacrifice.
~~~~~~~~~~
An American Soldier…..
You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door,
Hey, I'm solid, I'm steady, I'm true down to the core,
And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price,
I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice,
And I don't want to die for you, But if dying's asked of me,
I'll bear that cross with honor, 'Cause freedom don't come free.
I'm an American Soldier, an American,
Beside my Brothers and my Sisters I will proudly take a stand.
When liberty's in jeopardy I'll always do what's right.
I'm out here on the front lines, sleep in peace tonight.
Rest in Peace, dear Hero.
~~~~~~~~~~
(excerpt from Toby Keith's song)
Daniel Carl Capitani was a young man from the small country town of McDonald, PA. He died at the age of 20 years and 9 months, just 9 days before Christmas 1969. His parents were devastated by his loss. Daniel is buried near my brothers and we would often run into his parents as they visited his grave and tended his flowers. They lived very close to the cemetery and tried to visit every day. They always kept an American flag on his grave year round.They even had a granite bench placed near his grave so they could sit and reminisce about their son. My mother has used the bench quite often as she has aged.
As the years passed we saw them less often and assumed they weren't well enough to visit any more and now they have both passed on and are buried beside their beloved son.
Danny had a daughter born on July 7, 1969, just 2 months before he was sent to Vietnam, so at least he got to see her for a short time. Tragically, she was killed in a car accident when she was just 39 years old in 2008. The mother of the child also died tragically in 2003 of suicide. So tragic, that this little family suffered so much. Unbelievably, Danny's granddaughter, Danielle Lynn Hertzler, died suddenly at age 19 on May 17, 2019. She was named after him and they both died at such young ages.
Daniel's name can be found on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 15W, Row 62. He died in the province of Hua Nghia, South Vietnam. The town of McDonald, PA lost 2 brave young men. Daniel was the only one of the 58,000+ with the surname of Capitani.
When I visit my brother's graves I pass Daniel's headstone and I touch it and say, "Hi Danny." And if I have an extra flag with me I place it in the holder for him.
Thank you, Danny, for your service and sacrifice.
~~~~~~~~~~
An American Soldier…..
You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door,
Hey, I'm solid, I'm steady, I'm true down to the core,
And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price,
I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice,
And I don't want to die for you, But if dying's asked of me,
I'll bear that cross with honor, 'Cause freedom don't come free.
I'm an American Soldier, an American,
Beside my Brothers and my Sisters I will proudly take a stand.
When liberty's in jeopardy I'll always do what's right.
I'm out here on the front lines, sleep in peace tonight.
Rest in Peace, dear Hero.
~~~~~~~~~~
(excerpt from Toby Keith's song)
As the years passed we saw them less often and assumed they weren't well enough to visit any more and now they have both passed on and are buried beside their beloved son.
Danny had a daughter born on July 7, 1969, just 2 months before he was sent to Vietnam, so at least he got to see her for a short time. Tragically, she was killed in a car accident when she was just 39 years old in 2008. The mother of the child also died tragically in 2003 of suicide. So tragic, that this little family suffered so much. Unbelievably, Danny's granddaughter, Danielle Lynn Hertzler, died suddenly at age 19 on May 17, 2019. She was named after him and they both died at such young ages.
Daniel's name can be found on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 15W, Row 62. He died in the province of Hua Nghia, South Vietnam. The town of McDonald, PA lost 2 brave young men. Daniel was the only one of the 58,000+ with the surname of Capitani.
When I visit my brother's graves I pass Daniel's headstone and I touch it and say, "Hi Danny." And if I have an extra flag with me I place it in the holder for him.
Thank you, Danny, for your service and sacrifice.
~~~~~~~~~~
An American Soldier…..
You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door,
Hey, I'm solid, I'm steady, I'm true down to the core,
And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price,
I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice,
And I don't want to die for you, But if dying's asked of me,
I'll bear that cross with honor, 'Cause freedom don't come free.
I'm an American Soldier, an American,
Beside my Brothers and my Sisters I will proudly take a stand.
When liberty's in jeopardy I'll always do what's right.
I'm out here on the front lines, sleep in peace tonight.
Rest in Peace, dear Hero.
~~~~~~~~~~
(excerpt from Toby Keith's song)
Inscription
Dan is buried between his parents, all are on the same headstone. It reads:
CAPITANI
FATHER - HUBERT C. 1916-2002
MOTHER - MARGARET A. 1919-2004
SON - DANIEL C. 1949-1969
PFC CO D 65TH ENGR BN 25TH DIV VIETNAM
Family Members
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