24 YEARS AND 40 DAYS The Story of Army 1LT DANIEL HYDE

Daniel was a shooting star. I cannot think of a better person during my entire four years at West Point. That is not an overstatement or embellishment in any way. Some people, so in awe of him, used to say that he walked on water and then turned it into Miller Lite. This statement came from the way he carried himself. He was perfect in every way. He was perfect in our Academy's pillars: military, physical and academic. Far more importantly, he was perfect in the way that he lived his life: with honor, courage, and unrelenting love for everyone he ever encountered. PERFECT. Though his success was unrivaled by his peers, he was also the most laid-back guy I knew. He never once looked down on anybody. He made it look so effortless. I remember him coming to our weekly Command and Staff meetings, to a room rife with people who took themselves too seriously. Sometimes I was guilty of this. Then in his unique Dan Hyde fashion he would just be himself. He would walk--correction--he would stroll into the fancy, over-decorated room, adorned with polished oak desks, plaques on the wall, and overzealous BDE staff firsties (seniors) seated in leather chairs. He would be in cadet casual with a fitted baseball hat in hand. He would sink back into his chair all the way and put the hat on backwards, brim to the rear, with that calm confidence that set him apart from others. Looking relaxed as ever, his unequaled focus set a tone that, while he took his job seriously, he would never be overwhelmed or take himself too seriously. He was a damn fine cadet regimental commander, leading 4th regiment for a year and Beast barracks for a summer detail. I have no doubt that he was an amazing platoon leader, all of his soldiers emulating him. It was an honor to work with him on a day-to-day basis during my entire firstie year. In every encounter, he left me smiling. The first time I met Dan was the summer before firstie year when I was hospitalized for a painful surgery. Dan, whom I had never met before, visited me in the hospital with Maggie Clark while he was assigned as the Beast ll Regimental Commander. Let me reiterate, he was in the most demanding, stressful, and time-consuming job that the Academy has, and he visited me for a significant period of time in the hospital. He didn't even know me. I wasn't part of his Beast detail, and he visited and comforted me during one of the most difficult periods in my life. Often such a spectacular first impression is worn down the more you get to know someone. Whether you want to or not, you find their flaws. They don't quite measure up to that stunning first impression. Dan was a unique person in that he always remained kind and caring, living up to that first impression from the first time we met until the last time I saw him at Ranger School. He was always himself. He was true. No gimmicks, curtains, fronts, or sleights-of-hand. I cannot believe that such an amazing person--“Superman Dan” as some called him-- is gone. I just wanted to share my few experiences with such an awesome soul. Dan Hyde is pure America. He is everything that is right in this world. I am just blessed to have had the opportunity to cross paths with him in this life. Be thou at peace, Brother, Sean Snook West Point Class of 2007