Army Private First Class Juctin R. P. McDaniel
February 22, 1988 ~ December 17, 2007
Operation Iraqi Freedom
524th Combat Service Support Battalion, 45th Sustainment Brigade
8th Theater Sustainment Command, Fort Shafter, HI
19, of Andover, NH; died from injuries sustained in non-combat related vehicle accident in Taji, Iraq.
Operation Iraqi Freedom
524th Combat Service Support Battalion, 45th Sustainment Brigade
8th Theater Sustainment Command, Fort Shafter, HI
19, of Andover, NH; died from injuries sustained in non-combat related vehicle accident in Taji, Iraq.
NHGoldStarMomGS_20 said:
"I am Juctin's (Justin) mother Janine McDaniel. Our family now has joined a club that nobody wants to be a part of but is nonetheless. We are very proud of our son for stepping on the ground that put his life in peril to save ours and all Americans lives. Juctin was a fun loving, caring, wear your heart on your sleeve, didn't let things bug him, worked in abcd's and not necessarily in any order, was the type of guy that would help anybody who needed it. He was the Overseer of the underdogs, if they were picked on, made fun of, or hurt the perpetrator would get it and get it good. His compassion knew no limits; Juctin's only request was "No Fighting" which is difficult in a family of six, lol. Alas, we got to visit our son on our very first vacation to Hawaii for two weeks, his father stayed for one and so did his sister and favored neice Ceianna. We had many talks between father/son, mother/son, and sister/brother which included what he wanted to do should his time come. It sounds morbid but because we knew the odds we talked. He was insistent that if "it is my time, it's my time nothing is going to change that"! We have had many great memories of Juctin and although my heart hangs heaviest of all as his mother, I appreciate all of the support from the Town of Andover, State of NH, and The United States of America. We still grieve in our own ways and are facing the different lives we have now albiet not sure what my purpose is now, but that is another matter to deal with when I run out of helping others. Different yes different because it will never be the way it was, I won't receive those 4:30am calls saying "Hi Mom, whatya doin?" or the endings "I Love you do Mom, talk later". He was gone 3 days over a month and I was stuck in a bed because of back surgery since the day he deployed Nov 14th. He still called me in the Hospital, with me on morphine I must have been quite the person to laugh at, I went on rants. He would laugh at me and I couldn't laugh along, it hurt to laugh. Gosh he was such a funny kid would mimic Stuart from MadTV, Sean Connery due to his Scottish heritage, and many more people or figures like Strong Bad. I could type and type forever, it makes me feel good to let you know what type of person he was and how he lived. I won't speak of how he died; He died a hero. Juctin's memories are with us always and never a day goes by that something reminds us of him. I try to do something everyday to honor him, even by showering or getting out of bed, maybe even eating but I do it and I am just over a year out from his passing." NHGoldStarMomGS_20 4/23/09, 9:44 PM |
Juctin (pronounced Justin) was born in Laconia, the son of Timothy and Janine. He grew up in Andover NH, and attended Andover Elementary/Middle School and Merrimack Valley High School, graduating in 2006. Friends and school officials remember Juctin as a young man with a strong desire to serve in the military. It appeared to be his purpose in life, to serve his country and support our troops, in the way he dressed, acted, he even sported a military hair cut in high school. Juctin wasn’t particularly active in school activities, but he did play football in his freshman or sophomore year. Friends said he liked to listen to music, play video games, watch TV and hang out with friends. He briefly worked at Wal-Mart in Concord.
Between junior and senior year of high school, Juctin completed basic training. He wanted to be a soldier; he was very committed to that as a career. He took a great deal of pride in being part of the military. After graduating, he switched from the reserves to active duty. Friends said he wanted to serve his country, provide for his family and get the benefits that would allow him to continue his education. They remember Juctin as a person who went out of his way to help others. He was a friend to all in school, no matter how they dressed, talked, or the crowd the hung around with. He love dto make people laugh and smile, and would always make light of difficult situations. Juctin was deeply loyal to his family and friends. Juctin met his wife, Alicia, while they were both in the Army and they married in 2006. They were expecting their first child. He could hardly wait for his child to be born. To his regret, he would be in Iraq when his wife delivered. "He was really excited. He couldn't wait" to be a father, said Juctin’s friend Spc. Kyle Ladd. "He knew he'd be deployed for that time and he was kind of scared about that, but he was real excited." Juctin served with the 524th Combat Service Support Battalion, 45th Sustainment Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command based in Fort Shafter, Hawaii. Ladd said McDaniel deployed to Iraq in November as a mechanic. He was killed in a non-combat related vehicle accident. Juctin is survived by his wife Alicia Marie (Carson) McDaniel; mother, Janine McDaniel, father Timothy McDaniel, sisters Maygan McDaniel and MacKenzie McDaniel and brother Timothy M. McDaniel and his extended family. |