Daniel Winegeart remembered

KOUNTZE, Texas - A Southeast Texas soldier who died in Iraq this week was remembered by his family as an outdoorsman who gave up hunting in the thicket for a life committed to military service.

Spc. Daniel W. Winegeart died Tuesday in Baghdad after being injured when his vehicle drove off an overpass, the Department of Defense announced Thursday. The incident was being investigated.

Winegeart's family said the 23-year-old thrived in his nearly six years in the Army. He enlisted right out of high school and found his calling in the service.

"I guess he ended up doing that, just a little shorter than he planned," said Diane Winegeart, his stepmother.

A member of the Special Forces, Daniel Winegeart deployed to Iraq this spring and was serving his third tour of duty, his family said.

The soldier wished he could be home to fish or hunt bucks and hogs in the Southeast Texas thicket, his family said.

"We'd e-mail back and forth," Diane Winegeart said. "He said he really wanted to go bow hunting. I told him the best I can do is shoot my first one for him."

She said he loved venison backstrap, especially fried in a cast-iron skillet. She would make if for him smothered in pan gravy.

Daniel Winegeart often participated in outdoor activities with his father.

"He said numerous times that I'm not just his dad, I'm his best friend," David Winegeart said. "Yes, we were very close."

Winegeart is also survived by his 16-year-old half-sister, Laura.

Winegeart was assigned to the 5th Group Support Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group, Fort Campbell, Ky.

Funeral services were pending.

At least 46 Texas service members have died in Iraq in 2006, and at least 237 have died since the war began in March 2003, according to the defense department.

From the Star Telegram

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