September 2011 Man of the Month

Man of the Month

Sergeant Daniel Jagodzinski, Ranger, United States Army

Submitted by Cyndi Jagodzinski

I was so honored when asked to write about my son Daniel Ryan Jagodzinski to be highlighted as the “Man of the Month”. I have to be one of the proudest parents on the planet to have been blessed with a son who has achieved so much in his 22 years.

Daniel (as I call him, my privilege as his mommy) was an average boy, knocking teeth out and breaking bones, giving me a heart-attack every chance he got, until he decided that there were bigger and better things to do.

Daniel became an Eagle Scout at the age of 14, earning 50 merit badges and five Eagle Palms in Troop 245 in Memphis, Michigan. He served in many leadership roles including Assistant Scoutmaster until he enlisted in the Army. While in high school, he was also a member of the Memphis Varsity football team and received the Unsung Hero Award, Team Captain Award, and the first ever presented- Jimmy-Jag Award, which was named after him and a fellow teammate.

In March of 2007, Daniel announced that he was joining the Army, which gave us (his family) two weeks to prepare for his departure. Talk about a whirlwind of emotions. And to top it off, he added that he was going to be a “Ranger”. Gulp! As with everything else he had accomplished thus far, Daniel graduated from basic training, graduated from Airborne school, and later that year, passed RIP (Ranger Indoctrination Program) to become a Ranger.

In July 2008, Daniel deployed to Iraq and returned safely. He then went to Ranger school and graduated as a “tabbed” Ranger in May 2009. He deployed in June to Afghanistan for the first time and returned. During his first few years in the Army, Daniel held the ranks of Private First Class, Specialist, and was promoted to Sergeant E5 at the age of 21, during his second deployment to Afghanistan.

In April 2010, during his second deployment to Afghanistan, Daniel was critically injured from a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He sustained extensive internal damage to his stomach, diaphragm, intestines, liver, gall bladder, and general abdomen area. Many physicians told him that he was lucky to be alive and that God was watching over him. People with injuries as severe as his, survive an hour, at most.

In August of 2010, Daniel came home to be honored as “A Hometown Hero” by the small town of Memphis with a parade and ceremony coordinated by his uncle, Dan Hill. There are no words to describe the pride a mother feels at that moment, when people line the streets to watch her son go by. Daniel has always been the most respectful, loyal, strong and giving person, and it showed that day with the outpouring of support from all those people.

After many surgeries, and a year and a half of recovering, Daniel re-enlisted in the Army to work toward that Ranger status he once held. There is not a day that goes by I do not thank God for giving me the hero, I call my son, Daniel.

Team Valor is so inspired by Daniel's story. His courage, dedication, and patriotism no doubt make him a Man of Valor. 

Here's to you Daniel - The September Man of the Month!