Buffalo soldier collapses, dies in Iraq

Body to be returned here for burial

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The body of Army Sgt. Daniel J. Beard is expected to return to his hometown of Buffalo, where he will be buried with military honors following his death late last week in Iraq, his family told The Buffalo News on Tuesday.

Beard, 24, died Friday in Al Diwaniyah following a noncombat incident, according to reports Tuesday by the Department of Defense.

Beard, who was assigned to the 147th Postal Company, 21st Theater Sustainment Command in Wiesbaden, Germany, had been in Iraq for about the last eight months or so, his sister Deleris Austin said.

Austin said the family was notified Friday that Beard had just finished running “a couple of miles” and was in line for a weigh-in when he collapsed. Officials tried to revive Beard, but were unsuccessful. Results of an autopsy are pending.

As of Tuesday, Beard’s body had already been flown back to the United States and was in Delaware, Austin said.

News of the death of the 2003 Seneca Vocational High School graduate shocked and saddened his family, which includes Austin and another sister, four brothers and his father. Austin said their mother died in 2006 of a massive heart attack at age 50.

Austin last talked with Beard on Thursday. He told her he would call again Friday after his physical test but that call never came.

Austin said Beard was proud to be in the Army and his family was equally as proud of Beard’s service to the country—he was the family’s first to serve in the military.

“He put his life on the line for all of us,” she said.

After a brief stint in college, Austin said Beard enlisted in the Army and had been stationed in Germany for the last four years.

Beard last visited Buffalo over the holidays.

“He flew in from Iraq on Christmas Eve and on Jan. 12 returned to service,” Austin said.

She said Beard was ranked as a specialist until only very recently when he was promoted to sergeant. He had also recently re-enlisted for four years, Austin said.

Beard was expected home on leave in August and planned a vacation in Jamaica before returning for his next tour of duty, she said.

“He always had a smile on his face,” said Austin.

tpignataro@buffnews.com

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