Sergeant Daniel Weston Winegeart, 23, of Honey Island died on October 17, 2006 while on maneuvers in Baghdad, Iraq. Daniel was born on November 18, 1982 to David Wayne and Terri Sue (Tucker) Winegeart in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Daniel lived in Honey Island since 1990 and was a 2002 graduate of Kountze High School. Shortly after high school Daniel enlisted in the United States Army. Upon completing basic training, Daniel was chosen as the only person out of the 287 in his group for Special Forces Training. In the Army Daniel served as an electronics specialist and was currently serving his third deployment to Iraq. Daniel served as a member of the 5th Special Forces Ranger Group. In his military career, Daniel received the following awards: Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the Overseas Service Ribbon. He also received the parachutist and expert rifle badges.
Daniel had a great love for the outdoors. He had a great passion for bow hunting and was looking forward to the upcoming deer season. Upon entering the Army, Daniel’s life changed. He became a man. He was proud to be in the military and proud to serve his country and his fellow man. He had become part of a new “family” by being a part of the Special Forces. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Daniel is survived by his father and step-mother, David and Diane Winegeart of Honey Island; his mother, Terri Sue (Tucker) Winegeart of Beaumont; his sisters, Angela Tyte of Texas, Casey Palacios of Clarksville, Tennessee, Laura “Toots” Winegeart of Kountze; grandparents, Phillip and Eva Mae Winegeart of Sour Lake, Lester and Melba Tucker of Silsbee, Marilyn Dodrill of Woodville and Paw Paw Jack of Zavalla. He is also survived by a nephew, Christopher Winegeart and a niece, Charity Tyte as well as numerous other friends and relatives.
Funeral services for Sergeant Winegeart will be conducted on Thursday, October 26, 2006 at 11:00 A.M. at First Baptist Church in Kountze with Reverend Tony Thornton and Reverend Robert Hall officiating. Interment with full military honors will be held at Jordan Cemetery in Honey Island under the direction of Broussard’s Mortuary in Kountze. A gathering of family and friends will be held on Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at First Baptist Church in Kountze from 5:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. Pallbearers will be members of the 5th Special Forces Ranger Group.
“The Immortalized Soldiers Whose Bravery Abounds
They’re Our Husbands, Fathers and Sons
They Enlisted For the Duty at Hand
To Serve the Cause of Country and Land:
They Had Honor, They Had Valor,
They Found Glory That Changed Them Forever.”
