Dailey discusses life in the Army

He’s met the Queen of England and had dinner with Prince Harry. His resume includes at least 150 search missions for Saddam Hussein, and he is currently the 15th and youngest sergeant major of the U.S. Army. But despite having stepped foot in between 75 and 80 countries across the world, Daniel Dailey returned to the place Friday he feels most at home — Palmerton.

The Blue Bomber alum spoke to current members of Palmerton’s high school and junior high not only about his nearly 30-year career in the U.S. Army, but also hit on the significance of Memorial Day.

“Monday is such an important day because we get to tell the story of the men and women who serve to protect the things most of us take for granted every day,” Dailey said. “I’ve traveled all over the world, but none of those places are as sacred as this country. There is no single country or organization in the world like us, but almost every single one of them wants to be just like us.”

After graduating from Palmerton in 1990, Dailey only planned to serve two years in U.S. Army as a soldier, but it wasn’t long before he knew he would be in it for the long haul. Even after five tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and facing what he described as the most hostile environment he’s seen in Baghdad, Dailey told Palmerton’s student body he wouldn’t take it back for any other life.

“I found I was working for something greater than me,” Dailey said. “Our team in the Army, they don’t care how much they get paid or how long they work. I learned very early you had to be good to others because in my business, the people on my left and right take care of me and I take care of them. A mutual respect for each other is an absolute necessity for our survival on the battlefield.”

Dailey looks back fondly on the time he spent sitting in the seats occupied by the Palmerton students Friday. It is the very place, he said, where he first learned hard work and determination was the key to success, and humility would get him anywhere he wanted to go.

“When I joined the Army, I was just the normal, average young man going out into society not knowing what I was going to do for the rest of my life,” Dailey said. “But I knew the teachers I had here taught me three things, you have to work hard for everything you want in this nation, don’t take anything for granted and don’t expect anything for free. There is no silver lining to anything in the world. Everything you want in the world is within your grasp, you just have to work hard to get it.”

A successful career doesn’t come without sacrifices. Often, those sacrifices involve time with family, and Dailey is no different.

“I wish I could have spent more time with my family,” he said. “That is one thing that was very challenging. By the time my son was 16 years old, I was gone for 10 years. You can’t replace that. I don’t regret anything, but if there is one thing I could get back, it would be that time.”

Palmerton students got the chance to ask Dailey questions, which included the toughest thing he’s ever had to do while serving his country.

“Nothing can replace the life of an American soldier, and to be very frank,” he said, “I’ve had to go through that too many times. That is why Monday is so special. Every single one of those men and women would give everything they have for another day of life, but they gave their life for all of us.”

Friday’s program also included the presentation of colors from members of the American Legion Post 269 in Palmerton.

Dailey is also the scheduled guest speaker for Palmerton’s Memorial Day service on Monday. A parade is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. with the service to follow in the borough park at 11 a.m.