Obituary: Lance Cpl. Daniel T. Morris

Lance Cpl. Daniel Todd Morris, United States Marine Corps, 19, of Raphine, fell out of harm's way and into the eternal peace of God's protection on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007, in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. He was born Sept. 22, 1987, in Colorado Springs, Colo., a son of Carol (Wood) Morris Wendell.

Daniel was a rifleman with the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Regiment and had been stationed in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

He is the recipient of the National Defense Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

To honor his bravery and sacrifice, he has been awarded the Purple Heart.

He was a 2005 graduate of Wilson Memorial High School where he played trumpet in the marching band. He enjoyed video games, Seinfeld episodes and working with computers.

Before entering the military, Daniel worked at McDonald's in the Staunton Wal-Mart and in Community Development at Augusta County Government Center.

Family members include his mother and her fiancé, Donnie Moneymaker and his family; mtaernal grandparents, Charles D. Wood of Huttonsville, W.Va., and Johnny C. Wood of Stuarts Draft; paternal grandparents, Billy Morris Sr. and Barbara Hayes, both of Crimora; maternal great-grandmother, Dessie Stemple of Clarksburg, W.Va.; his brother, Jonathan C. Morris of the home; an uncle, Kevin Wood and his friend, Elaine Morris of Huttonsville; a nephew, Kevin Wood and a niece, Krista Wood, both of Stuarts Draft; many loving great-aunts, uncles and cousins; a special great-aunt, Murhl Blessing and her husband, Lew, of Lyndhurst; a special cousin, Rhonda Shifflett and her husband, Tony, of Fishersville; and special friends, Jeanette Cash of Fishersville and Cory McDaniel of Waynesboro.

He was loved by the employees of Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center and Augusta County Government Center.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, 2007, in the New Providence Presbyterian Church by the Rev. Christopher Crotwell.

Burial will follow in the church cemetery with military graveside rites by members of the U.S. Marine Corps Co. C, 4th Combat Engineer Battalion, who will also serve as active pallbearers.

Honorary pallbearers will be Lew Blessing, Bob Wimer, Tony Shifflett, Kevin Wood, Denny Morris, Cory McDaniel, Wayne Reese and Jerry Moneymaker.

The family will receive friends from 5 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007, in the Henry Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the John Morris College Fund, Community Bank, 38 N. Central Ave., Staunton, VA 24401.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at http://www.henryfuneralhome.net/.

Related posts:
- Freedom Isn't Free ... Augusta County Marine Killed (2-15-07).
- Augusta County Board of Supervisors honors fallen Marine
- Gone but not forgotten ... SWAC honors a fallen hero
- Lance Cpl Daniel Morris ... a community honors a local fallen hero
- A community wraps its arms around a fallen hero's family
- Patriot Guard Riders stand guard at funeral of Lance Cpl Daniel Morris

Update 2-14-10: Freedom is not free ... remembering a fallen hero.

All gave some ... some gave all.

For those who have fought for it,
Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.

Semper Fi.