Army sgt. returns from Afghanistan

After a year of serving in Afghanistan, Spc. 4 Ethan McDaniel of the US Army will arrive in Bonners Ferry on Friday, Oct. 1.

McDaniel will be visiting his parents, Darrell and Kimberly Young of Moyie Springs.

McDaniel, 20, lives in Clayton, Calif., and spent a year in Afghanistan. He is a member of the 82nd Airborne Division and stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

Ethan’s parents said at age 17 he went to them and asked if he could join the Army.  His parents agreed and after graduating high school in 2008, McDaniel went on to Fort Benning, Ga., where he completed his airborne training.

“Ethan was 11-years-old when 9/11 happened,” said Kim Young. 

According to McDaniel’s parents, 9/11 had a deep impact on the youngster.  So much so that he asked his stepfather if he could sign a permission slip for McDaniel to fight the terrorists. He thought since he was under age with his parents permission he could fight them.

“Ever since then he wanted to be a soldier,” Darrell Young said.

McDaniel has an older brother Jimmy McDaniel of Oakley, Calif., one older stepbrother David Young of Meridian, and one older stepsister Ami Yong of Mariana, Ark.

McDaniel will meet his new sister-in-law Christina McDaniel and niece Mickenzie for the first time.

McDaniel returns to Fort Bragg for duty and will await his next assignment.