Lana had a project to do about a hero. She first thought about writing about her favorite author, Jacqueline Wilson, but after a bit of thought she quickly remembered that she knew a real life hero. How many of us can say that?

One day in April 2008 our friend Dan saved a woman’s life. When this happened, Lana renamed him Super Duper Dan and that is what she has called him since. Even if he had never saved a life, he would still be a good man. He is a great friend, a loving husband (his wife is fabulous too) and they have raised a pretty spectacular young woman. But Dan has done some spectacularly heroic things. Yes, plural. I think Danny’s accomplishments should be shared and since he doesn’t do that for himself, I will do it for him by sharing Lana’s report.

Dan Hayes … My Hero

Dan isn’t like any ordinary man. Dan went to war at age 25 . He served in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm from 1990 – 91 for 6 months. He trained at Fort Bragg for a month prior to departing. He was in the ARMY, Special Operations, USACAPOC(United States Army Civil Affairs Psychological Operations Command). He received a Bronze Star Medal for putting his life in danger to help his 6 man team during the war. That was the scariest moment of his life !!!!!

He and his wife Peggy, have been together since 1982. Holly, his daughter was 4 months old when he went away to war. She is now 23 and just graduated from UCONN with a Biology degree and a minor in psychology. She is still going to continue her education in Medicine or Law.

 

Something you would never guess about Dan is his love of sharks. His love of sharks actually started because of his daughter Holly’s love for them. She and he are both certified divers and have been in shark cages to study sharks.But none of these reasons alone are why he is my hero.

Dan is also very active in the community. He is president of the War Memorial which is a community center in the town where I was born. That is how my mother and he became friends and how I got to know him. Even though he is a really great guy, that is not why he is my hero.

This is why he is my hero…

One day, Dan was driving his car and he saw a car that looked like it had been in an accident and was on fire, so he stopped his car and went to get a closer look when he saw a man running from who said that he couldn’t get the woman out. The lady was stuck in her burning car. Instead of getting in his car and driving away, he ran up to the car and got inside behind her seat. He told the lady inside the car to stay calm. He saw that her legs were stuck under the steering wheel and her door wouldn’t open. Dan said that it would hurt a little bit and, with all of his force, he broke the back of the chair and dragged the lady out of the car and lay her on the ground. A minute or so later the firemen came and he got in his car and drove away once the lady had been taken care of.

But that is not all, he has also saved 5 people from drowning, one in a river, 2 in the ocean and 2 in swimming pools. He also chased a car on foot that was driving across a parking lot with no one in it. He jumped in and stopped it before it crashed into someone. Three  years ago there was a snow storm that brought the worst damage to power lines in Connecticut history, he had Dan had over 80 people stay at the War Memorial for 10 days  all of which he  slept in his office to be available to help take care of everyone. Then 2 years ago we had hurricane Sandy in which we had over 100 people stayed for more than 2 weeks. We also had the army bring in food and water to give out to the tens of thousands of people that had no electricity. Again he stayed and slept in his  office for 15 days while running the shelter.

Dan was awarded Citizen of the Year 2 years ago, and Veteran of the Year last year for his help with the community. He also received a life saving award from the Police Department and one from the Fire Department when he saved the woman from the burning car.

 

“I don’t think about this stuff or that I am a hero, I just do what I think Jesus would do.” Daniel Hayes

He is my hero.