A Sunset Hills man killed June 23 while serving the U.S. Army in Iraq was laid to rest Saturday at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery during a service attended by several-hundred people.
First Lt. Daniel P. Riordan, 24, died June 23 from injuries suffered during a roadside bombing northwest of Baghdad.
Lt. Riordan was one of four soldiers killed when an “improvised explosive device” detonated near their vehicle, according to the Department of Defense.
The other three were: Sgt. Joel A. House, 22, of Lee, Maine; Sgt. Jimy M. Malone, 23, of Wills Point, Texas; and Spc. Derek A. Calhoun, 23, of Oklahoma City, Okla.
Lt. Riordan was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division in Fort Hood, Texas.
He is survived by his mother, Jeanine Rainey, and stepfather, Bob Rainey, of Sunset Hills; father, Rick Riordan, and stepmother, Michelle Riordan; sister, Suzanne; twin brother, Nick; maternal grandparents, John and Theresa Windish; and paternal grandparents, William and Addie Riordan.
In a written statement, Lt. Riordan’s family said when he left for Iraq last year, he told his mother: “This is what I am called to do.”
A family statement also recognized and appreciated mourners’ comfort during the family’s difficult time.
“The outpouring of love has been overwhelming. Everyone has shared such wonderful memories they have of Danny.”
Although he was born in Fort Worth, Texas, Lt. Riordan moved to St. Louis with his family at the age of 5. He attended Queen of All Saints Elementary School in Oakville and was a 2001 graduate of St. John Vianney High School.
Lt. Riordan pursued higher education at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, where he received a bachelor’s degree in 2005.
He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He trained at Fort Benning, Ga., and Fort Hood and was deployed last October to Iraq.
Two memorial funds have been established in his honor — the Lt. Daniel P. Riordan Scholarship Fund, at St. John Vianney High School, 1311 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, Mo. 63122, and the Wounded Warrior Project, 7020 AC Skinner Parkway, Ste. 100, Jacksonville, Fla., 32256.
Lt. Riordan was remembered and honored Saturday during a funeral Mass at St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Church in Sunset Hills and a military funeral service at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.
Boy Scout Troop 662 Troop Leader David Ahlemeyer, who attended Saturday’s funeral service, recalled Lt. Riordan from his days in Scouting.
“He was our senior patrol leader in 2000,” Ahlemeyer said. “I remember he loved the idea of command. We knew he was going to the military because we would tell him to get the boys in line and he got them in line …
“He was always wearing camouflage. For a while there, the unofficial troop uniform was camouflage pants. If they went camping, they would wear camouflage.”
Ahlemeyer and assistant troop leader Ed Barron also recalled that Lt. Riordan’s rugged style fit him to the point where he would “never” use a tent to camp.
“He was always the one who camped with a tarp,” Ahlemeyer said. “The most rugged camping he could do.”
Others who attended the funeral like Affton Elks Exalted Ruler Doug Buchanan said even though they did not personally know Lt. Riordan, they felt an obligation to honor the memory and service of a fallen U.S. soldier.
“We’re here to show patriotism to the American soldier,” Buchanan said. “We’re here for all of them that’s over there. We’re behind them 100 percent. Anything we can do for them.”
Cathy Colbeck said she came to show an appreciation for Lt. Riordan, who she said gave “so much” for his country.
“I think we owe it to this young man,” Colbeck said. “Because he’s given up so much for us. It just breaks my heart.”
