Former Penfield High School student killed in Afghanistan

Posted at: 10/01/2012 12:56 PM | Updated at: 10/01/2012 5:22 PM
By: Ray Levato | WHEC.com

Another Rochester area soldier has become a casualty in the war in Afghanistan.

Family members of Army Sergeant Daniel Metcalfe say they have been notified that he was killed in fighting over the weekend. The 29-year-old was married and the father of three small children.

News10NBC is still awaiting official word from the Department of Defense, but family members say Sergeant Metcalfe was an 11-year veteran on his fifth or sixth tour of duty. He died Saturday from small arms fire in what is being described as an ambush.

Bobbie Metcalfe is Sgt. Daniel Metcalfe's aunt. News10NBC spoke with her at her home in Williamson.

Bobbie Metcalfe said, “He loved kids. He had great fun with the family and was very compassionate. And he was an awesome kid.”

She says her nephew joined the Army for a career, but was thinking about getting out after this deployment.

Metcalfe said, “His dad was in the Army and his mom served in the Army. We have other relatives who have served. We're basically a military family.”

The five stars on her front door are for the five members of her family who are or have served their country. Her youngest just graduated boot camp. And she also has a son currently serving in Afghanistan.

Metcalfe: Before the airplane carrying Danny left and he missed him by two minutes. He wanted to say goodbye in Afghanistan to him because he knew he wouldn't be coming home for the service.”
 
Family and friends have been posting comments on Bobbie's Facebook page.

Metcalfe said, “These kids that are serving now, they're volunteering, and they're protecting your freedoms. And some of them are giving the ultimate sacrifice like Danny. And they don't ask for anything in return, just for someone to acknowledge and say thank you to them. These are all volunteer kids who wanted to serve their country because they love their country.”

The Penfield School District issued a statement confirming that Sgt. Daniel Metcalfe attended Penfield High School from 1997 through 2000, the end of his junior year. He did not graduate from Penfield.
   
The family is waiting to hear from Sgt. Metcalfe’s father who drove down to Dover, Delaware to meet his son’s body as it was returned to American soil. The 173rd Airborne Combat Brigade is stationed in Italy and that’s where Sgt. Metcalfe’s wife and children have been living.
 

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