News : Bronze Star medal recipient Lt. Col. Daniel Beatty leaving Afghanistan

Lt. Col. Daniel Beatty, an '86 Vinton alum, speaks to the Bronco Brigade this week.

Bronco Commander Robert Kim, left, presented the Bronze Star to Lt. Col Beatty and others.

Vinton native Lt. Col Daniel Beatty receives the Bronze Star medal from Col. Robert Kim.

Dear Soldiers:

Please, please don't let the bad guys come to our house. Thank you for protecting me.

Love,

Lael, 4 years old

That gut-wrenching note from an Afghanistan boy is one of the memories that soldiers of the U.S. Army 25th Infantry Division's Bronco Brigade (officially known as the 3rd Brigade Combat Team) are bringing home with them this month after a year in that war-torn country.

Among those soldiers is Lt. Col. Daniel Beatty, a 1986 Vinton graduate.

Beatty, the son of Garth and Pat Beatty of rural Vinton, was one of several Bronco Brigade members to receive the Bronze Star in honor of their efforts in the dangerous area of Jalalabad for the past year.

"We usually don't know why or how these medals are given," says Pat Beatty.

Lt. Col Beatty is very "tight-lipped about his mission," says his mom.

The Bronze Star ceremony took place this week at the FOB (Forward Operating Base) Fenty in Jalalabad. Bronco Brigade Commander Col. Robert Kim presented the medals to Beatty and several others.

The Bronco Brigade lost several soldiers during their year of deployment; several more were wounded in battles with Taliban fighters or injured when IEDS exploded near them or their vehicles.

The Beattys are glad to know their son and his unit are heading back to Hawaiivery soon.

"He should be back at his Hawaii post with 25th ID by the end of the month," says Pat Beatty.