Honoree: Daniel G. McCollum


Daniel G. McCollum
Dates: Died January 9, 2002
Hometown: Irmo, SC
Branch of Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Captain
Player: Tom Fischer

Marine Corps Captain Daniel McCollum, 29, of Irmo, South Carolina was assigned to the Marine Aerial Transport Refueler Squadron 352, based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar CA. He died January 9, 2002, when the KC-130 tanker plane he was co-piloting crashed into a mountainside in Pakistan.

Capt McCollum graduated in 1992 from Irmo High School where he was a member of the ROTC program. He also was a black belt in karate and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Capt McCollum graduated from Clemson University with a degree in mechanical engineering in December 1996 and promptly received his commission from the Marines, with whom he had been training since 1993.

Capt McCollum wanted to be a pilot from a very early age - he earned his wings in July of 1999. He went on to train in the KC-130 and accumulated over 500 flight hours during his career.

“He was a very gentle man, a very kind man. Patient. I have been saying that to know Dan is to love Dan, “said his wife, Jennifer.

Capt McCollum leaves behind his wife, Jennifer, and son, Daniel Jr., who was born six months after he died.