Spc. Dane R. Balcon of Colorado Springs, Colorado graduated from Sand Creek High School in 2006 and went back to the school in May 2007 to let teachers and students know how he was doing in the Army. Born at Luke Air Force Base he spent many weekends as a child in Fort Bragg, N.C. with his father, John Balcon, who was in the Army. Becoming a soldier was something he seemed destined to do. During school he joined the ROTC where he paid close attention to every detail of his uniform, and everyone else's, to the point that he could distinguish whether they used starch. He had a love for the military and for serving his country. It's what he always said he wanted to do and had planned to have a career in the military. He also loved the drums and was very involved with all aspects of music at school joining the school's drumline in his senior year, even though he couldn't read music sheets very well. His Awards and ribbons earned while serving his country include: The Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, Combat Action Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Weapons Qualification Badge, Expert w/Rifle. He died in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device at age 19.

Army
1st Squadron
7th Cavalry Regiment
3rd Brigade Combat Team
1st Cavalry Division
Fort Hood, Texas∼SPC Dane R. Balcon was born on 27 April 1988, at Luke AFB, Arizona. In 2007, he enlisted in the Army as a Fire Support Specialist, following graduation from Sand Creek High School. He attended Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training with 2nd Platoon, Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 40th Field Artillery Regiment, at Fort Sill, OK. Upon graduation from AIT, SPC Balcon received his first assignment to 3rd Squadron 8th Cavalry Regt., 1st Cavalry Division, in Fort Hood, TX. He deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Balad, Iraq on 7 July 2007 and on 5 September 2007 he completed his mission-doing what he loved-serving his country. SPC Balcon is survived by his mother Carla, her husband Larry Sizer, his brothers Grant and Quinn. Dane is also survived by his father John Balcon and his wife Claire, their children Samuel, Joshua, Brianna, and his sister Allegra, Grandparents CMSgt (ret) Stephen B. Thomas, Jr. (Suzanne), Cynthia B. Thomas, Ernesto Balcon (Yvonne), Kathleen Sizer, Alexie Sizer, Godparents CMSgt (ret) James Davis (Lt Col (ret) Bettye), his Uncle Steve (Trina), Aunts Debbie (Charles), Karen, and Yolanda (Eddie), and a host of great Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, friends, brother-in-arms, and a loving country. Awards and ribbons that SPC Balcon earned while serving his country include: The Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, Combat Action Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Weapons Qualification Badge – Expert w/Rifle. If you wish to make a charitable contribution in lieu of flowers in honor of Specialist Dane R. Balcon, please donate to the Rocky Mountain USO, PO Box 492093, Denver International Airport, Denver, CO 80249, phone: (303)342-6876, Hedy Margolis, Director, E-mail: [email protected] or the Specialist Dane R. Balcon JROTC Scholarship Fund. If you would like to send the family a word of encouragement, please visit www.legacy.com. A visitation is from 4:00 – 7:00 pm, Thursday, September 13, 2007, Swan-Law Funeral Home. Service are planned for 10:00 am, Friday, September 14, 2007, United States Air Force Academy Chapel, USAF Academy, CO. Graveside services will follow at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, CO.
Published in The Gazette on Sept. 12, 2007