Daniel Brozovich remembered

CHARLOTTE COUNTY -- Gloria Pollock of Port Charlotte lost her son Wednesday in a bomb explosion in Iraq.

Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Brozovich of the Pennsylvania National Guard was 42. He died on patrol in an armored vehicle when an improvised explosive device detonated.

Brozovich, called "Danny" by his friends, died in the city of Ashraf during his third tour of duty since Sept. 11, 2001.

He was ordered to go only once; he volunteered to return for his second and third tours.

One of his favorite sayings was "Freedom isn't free," family members said.

"I want everyone to know he was a hero," Pollock said in a telephone interview from Greensville, Pa., where her son lived. "He wanted to do this. The last time I saw him, he said, 'Mom, I trained for this. Don't worry.' We are all so proud of him."

Pollock, a former Cultural Center volunteer coordinator, and her husband, James, are waiting for Brozovich's body to be returned from overseas. A military funeral is scheduled for later this week near Pittsburgh.

He leaves his wife, Mary June, and an 11-year-old son, Ryan. He also leaves two grandchildren, a stepdaughter, his father and stepmother, and two brothers, including an identical twin.

"He was gung-ho," Pollock said. "We called him our soldier man."

Brozovich was a labor foreman at a state prison when he wasn't serving in the military. But that wasn't often.

He was an active-duty Marine from 1982 to 1986 and then joined the Pennsylvania National Guard.

He received the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

He also received a Bronze Star for heroism. Posthumously, he will receive the Purple Heart.

Brozovich's twin is taking the death the hardest, Pollock said. "Everyone who comes to the house does a double-take when they see him."

His 11-year-old son has been retreating to "his private place" outside to be alone and talk to his father, said Brozovich's older brother, Barry.

"He was in his private place out there and asked his dad to send a sign that everything was OK," Barry said.

"A huge double rainbow appeared at the end of the street."

From the Herald Tribune

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