The [Henderson] Daily Dispatch
CREEDMOOR — Cpl. Daniel Tod O’Leary, who was killed while serving in Iraq Feb. 23, will be remembered by his family and friends at a funeral service at 2 p.m. on Sunday in the Eakes Funeral Chapel in Creedmoor.
Visitation hours will be Saturday from 6-8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
O’Leary enlisted in the army in 2006. He was a member of Fox Company, 307th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division and serving his second tour of duty in Iraq.
O’Leary was killed when the truck in which he was driving hit an earthen barricade and rolled over.
O’Leary’s parents, Tod and Virginia O’Leary, live in Granville County. Although Daniel O’Leary was born in California, he grew up in Granville County, attending Wilton Elementary School, Hawley Middle School and South Granville High School. In July, 2009, Daniel O’Leary married Nikita Abeyta, also of Granville County.
Tod O’Leary said his son loved to play soldier when he was a child.
“If he didn’t have a plastic gun, he made one out of a stick,” he said. “He played soccer and wrestled, was a prankster but, most of all, he made people feel special.”
Tod O’Leary quoted one of his son’s friends who said, “He took me for what I am.”
Daniel O’Leary loved to invent and planned to become an electrical engineer after he left the service, according to his father.
“His big thing was energy efficiency,” he said.
Tod O’Leary spoke of the benefits of having his son stationed at Fort Bragg.
“When he was stateside, he and his buddies would visit us. There would be 10 or 15 of them raiding our refrigerator.” he said.
After a pause, and with emotion very evident in his voice, he added, “I hate their pain.”
Tod O’Leary said the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority provided an impressive ceremony to honor Daniel O’Leary when his body was flown in from Dover Air Force Base.
During his career, Cpl. O’Leary was awarded the Bronze Star, the nation’s fourth highest award for bravery; U.S. Army Commendation Medal; U.S. Army Achievement Medal; Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Iraqi Campaign Medal with two stars; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; and Overseas Service Ribbon.
A spokesman for North Carolina Patriot Guard Riders said the family of Cpl. O’Leary extended an invitation to the organization to attend the funeral in his honor.
The Patriot Guard Riders are volunteers who show their respect for soldiers by attending funeral services for those who have fallen in the line of duty.
