[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 17, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5653-S5654]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                    Staff Sergeant Daniel N. Fannin

  Mr. McCONNELL. This morning I wish to share with my colleagues the 
story of a brave Kentucky airman who loved his country so much he 
defended it at the cost of his life.
  U.S. Air Force SSgt Daniel N. Fannin, of Morehead, KY, was killed in 
the crash of his reconnaissance plane near Kandahar Airfield in 
Afghanistan on April 27, 2013. It was just a few weeks after his 30th 
birthday.
  For his service in uniform, Staff Sergeant Fannin received several 
medals, awards, and declarations, including the National Defense 
Service Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Air 
Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal with 
one oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf 
cluster, and the Bronze Star.
  Daniel's mother Sharri Jones recalls this of her son:

       Daniel flew on this Earth as an airman. His faith has 
     earned him angel wings now. He died serving others, serving 
     his country, and serving God. This mother is blessed.

  Daniel grew up in Morehead and attended Rowan County Senior High 
School, from which he graduated in 2001. He enlisted in the Air Force 
shortly after graduation and at the time of his death was a 12-year 
veteran.
  Daniel's mother Sharri remembers:

       I frequently told Daniel he was my hero. Benjamin Disraeli 
     said, ``The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name 
     and the inheritance of a great example.''
       These words epitomize my son. His name will be remembered, 
     and his works are indeed great examples. He was then, and 
     will forever be, my hero.

  Daniel's mother Sharri continues:

       I used to tell Daniel that it didn't matter what he did as 
     a career in life, but I expected him to be the best that he 
     could be, no matter if he was a ditch digger or a CEO. He did 
     me proud by doing just that. He was the best man that he 
     could possibly be.

  As Daniel grew up, he had to learn how to do chores such as laundry, 
cleaning, and cooking. Sharri's mother said:

       Like all kids do, he complained constantly, and sometimes 
     it was a battle getting him to do those things. I was 
     fortunate enough to get to attend his Air Force basic 
     training graduation ceremony in San Antonio. During liberty, 
     he took me aside and said: ``Mom, I want to thank you.'' I 
     said: ``What for, son?'' He said: ``For making me do all of 
     those things you made me do, like laundry. It sure made 
     things a lot easier for me here. Some of these guys didn't 
     even know how to turn a washer on!''

  Daniel was an avid reader from his early childhood. ``The hardest 
form of punishment for him was not to allow him to read,'' says his 
mother Sharri. Daniel's wife Sonya Fannin certainly agreed. ``He could 
read a 400-page book in a day or less,'' she says.
  Daniel met Sonya while stationed in Oklahoma City. Sonya says:

       One of my favorite stories to tell was that on our first 
     date he went to the flower shop to pick a bouquet. He spent 
     hours in the shop, he said, before finally picking two dozen 
     white roses. When he presented them at the door, Danny didn't 
     know that those were my favorite flowers, but that was the 
     moment I knew.

  Daniel loved to go camping, hiking, biking, and fishing. He loved the 
outdoors. On his and Sonya's 5-year anniversary trip to Maui, Danny's 
favorite activity was a submarine ride 170 feet below sea level. He 
liked to say he had been to the depths of the ocean and flown to the 
highest heights after that trip.

[[Page S5654]]

  Daniel was assigned to the Air Force's 552nd Operations Support 
Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City. He was an airborne 
sensor operator and a qualified Air Force air surveillance instructor 
who served with distinction at Tinker Air Force Base.
  In his dozen years of service, Daniel deployed on three tours as an 
E-3 AWACS, or airborne warning and control system, aircraft 
surveillance technician. He was also an MC-12 sensor operator. While in 
Afghanistan, Daniel was assigned to the 361st Expeditionary 
Reconnaissance Squadron as a member of the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing 
at Kandahar Air Base.
  His mother said:

       After his death, multiple superior officers have told me 
     how respected he was, how well Daniel performed his duties, 
     and that he was exceptional at mentoring young airmen 
     personally as he was professionally. Daniel was a very devout 
     man. Many have said that he led them to Christ or reconnected 
     them with the Lord.

  His wife Sonya agrees:

       He was a Christian man of Christian values and morals. He 
     served God in all that he did.

  Daniel also liked to laugh and joke with his family and friends. 
Sonya says:

       He went by many nicknames; ``Dan the man,'' ``Fan Dannin,'' 
     and my dad's favorite, ``Lieutenant Dan.'' My dad would 
     always ask, ``Lieutenant Dan, have you flown much lately?'' 
     Danny would stick his arms out to each side and say he had 
     been flying as much as he could.

  After Daniel's death, at a park located near Tinker Area Force Base, 
where he had been stationed, Daniel's legacy was honored with a replica 
E-3 AWACS aircraft dedicated in his honor in a ceremony in April of 
this year. Inscribed on the tail of the E-3 replica honoring Daniel are 
the words ``Service Before Self,'' one of the Air Force's core values 
those who knew Daniel knew he lived by.
  Sonya Fannin was present for the dedication to her husband, and she 
spoke to the crowd of about 300. She said:

       This memorializes Daniel's very essence, his giving spirit 
     in a way which those in the public can see. Memorializing 
     Danny here in the public park, a place in which our civilian 
     friends and family can visit and heal on their own time, is 
     truly special.

  Daniel's family members and friends are foremost in our thoughts as I 
recount this story for my Senate colleagues today. They include his 
wife Sonya Fannin, his mother Sharri Jones, his grandparents Henry and 
Fern Hamm, and many other beloved family members and friends.
  I would like to close with some words from Daniel's mother Sharri 
about her son. Here is what she said:

       I know that there are many who continue to grieve deeply 
     over Daniel's passing. To them I would say, take the things 
     that Daniel shared with you, learn from them, and pass them 
     forward. Give others what he gave you. In that way, he will 
     live forever.

  I couldn't agree more with such a heartfelt sentiment.
  I would like the family of SSgt Daniel Fannin to know that Members of 
the Senate do indeed recognize the things Daniel gave to his country-- 
namely, his service, his life, and his sacred honor. We will be forever 
grateful.

                          ____________________