1st Lt. Riordan of St. Louis, Mo., was 5 years old when his family moved to St. Louis. He attended Queen of All Saints Catholic grade school in Oakville, where he was active in the Boy Scouts. As a popular Senior, he ran track and played football at Vianney where he was always upbeat and charismatic. Dan went on to Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, from which he graduated and earned his commission through the Air Force ROTC program in 2005. He switched to the Army through a program known as "Blue to Green," and became an infantry officer in November 2005. Dan was a real leader. Though he was constantly in harm's way, he never wrote home about politics, but always from the point of view of the mission. He was proud to be part of something for his country. He once told his family that prayers were the best ammo other than old-fashioned lead. Whenever he took his platoon on long dismounted foot patrols, He's say a rosary in his head and prayed with the fire teams before each mission when time allowed, proving that his faith remained a big part of his life, especially in war-torn Iraq. On Feb. 17 2007 he attended a fund raiser at the high school's annual auction, where he received a standing ovation. Dan was a true cowboy and gentleman who loved country music, the outdoors and his family. He died in Taji, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.
Army
2nd Battalion
8th Cavalry Regiment
1st Brigade Combat Team
1st Cavalry Division
Fort Hood, Texas
Army
2nd Battalion
8th Cavalry Regiment
1st Brigade Combat Team
1st Cavalry Division
Fort Hood, Texas
1st Lt. Riordan of St. Louis, Mo., was 5 years old when his family moved to St. Louis. He attended Queen of All Saints Catholic grade school in Oakville, where he was active in the Boy Scouts. As a popular Senior, he ran track and played football at Vianney where he was always upbeat and charismatic. Dan went on to Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, from which he graduated and earned his commission through the Air Force ROTC program in 2005. He switched to the Army through a program known as "Blue to Green," and became an infantry officer in November 2005. Dan was a real leader. Though he was constantly in harm's way, he never wrote home about politics, but always from the point of view of the mission. He was proud to be part of something for his country. He once told his family that prayers were the best ammo other than old-fashioned lead. Whenever he took his platoon on long dismounted foot patrols, He's say a rosary in his head and prayed with the fire teams before each mission when time allowed, proving that his faith remained a big part of his life, especially in war-torn Iraq. On Feb. 17 2007 he attended a fund raiser at the high school's annual auction, where he received a standing ovation. Dan was a true cowboy and gentleman who loved country music, the outdoors and his family. He died in Taji, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.
Army
2nd Battalion
8th Cavalry Regiment
1st Brigade Combat Team
1st Cavalry Division
Fort Hood, Texas
Army
2nd Battalion
8th Cavalry Regiment
1st Brigade Combat Team
1st Cavalry Division
Fort Hood, Texas
