Captain Daniel P. Whitten

CAPTAIN DANIEL PRESTON WHITTEN

The Department of Defense announced the death Capt. Daniel Whitten, 28, of Grimes, Iowa, who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. He died along with Pfc. Zachary G. Lovejoy, 20, of Albuquerque, N.M. of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device on Feb. 2 in Zabul province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. He was on his third deployment in four years. He was assigned to Fort Bragg in March 2005 and subsequently served a four-month deployment in Iraq. In 2007, he was sent to Afghanistan for a 15-month tour, and he returned again to Afghanistan in last August as commanding officer of Company C, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Regiment. Whitten's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Senior Parachutist's Badge and the Ranger Tab. The remains of Capt. Daniel Whitten will arrive at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware early in the morning on 5 Feb, 2010, according to the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center. A memorial in his honor will be held in Afghanistan. CPT Whitten is survived by his wife, Starr Whitten, and his parents, Dan and Jill Whitten, and a sister, U.S. Army Capt. Sarah Whitten Frederickson, who is currently deployed to Afghanistan. Grave marker for Captain Daniel P, Whitten in United States Military Academy Post Cemetery, West Point (Orange county) New York.	Published: 03:39 PM, Thu Feb 04, 2010 2 Fort Bragg paratroopers killed Tuesday in Afghanistan A staff report Two Fort Bragg paratroopers were killed when their vehicle was hit by an explosive device in Afghanistan this week, the Department of Defense said. Capt. Daniel Whitten, 28, and Pfc. Zachary G. Lovejoy, 20, were assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. The soldiers were on a mounted patrol when an improvised explosive device hit their vehicle Tuesday in the Zabul province of Afghanistan, the military said. Whitten was from Grimes, Iowa. Lovejoy was from Albuquerque, N.M. "Capt. Whitten and Pfc. Lovejoy were beloved members of the task force," said Lt. Col. David I. Oclander, commander of the 1-508th PIR "They lived their lives to the fullest extent possible in everything they did. Their lives inspired us and their memories will drive us to honor them." Whitten was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Infantry in May 2004 and subsequently attended Infantry Officers Basic Course, Basic Airborne School and Ranger School at Fort Benning, Ga. Whitten reported to Fort Bragg in March 2005 and was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment. He served four months in Iraq. In January 2007, Whitten deployed for 15 months in Afghanistan. Last August, Whitten became the commander of Company C, 1-508th PIR, and deployed for his third time. Lovejoy enlisted in the Army as an infantryman in August 2008, attending One Station Unit Training and Basic Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga. He reported to Fort Bragg and was assigned to 1-508th PIR where he served as an assistant machine gunner. He deployed in August 2009 with the unit for a year-long deployment in Afghanistan. "Dan and Zachary will be missed by all of C Company," said 1st Lt. Scott Haran, a platoon leader in Company C. "We will all dedicate ourselves fully to their memory and to their legacy. To Starr and Mr. and Mrs. Lovejoy, you are in our thoughts and prayers." Whitten's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Senior Parachutist's Badge, and the Ranger Tab. Lovejoy's awards and decorations include the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Basic Parachutist's Badge. Whitten is survived by his wife, Starr Whitten, and his parents, Dan and Jill Whitten. Lovejoy is survived by his parents, Mike and Terry Lovejoy, and his sister, Ashley Lovejoy. A memorial in their honor will be held in Afghanistan.