My Heroes... Dan Potts....

This was posted on FaceBook, by Marcus Luttrell:

Daniel J. Potts, 61, of Houston, Texas died March 3, 2012 in a skydiving accident in San Marcos, Texas. He was born January 4, 1951, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Jerry and Alma (Tittle) Potts.

Dan enlisted in the US Navy in March 1969 during the Viet Nam war and volunteered for duty to serve in combat with the UDT-SEAL Teams. Dan qualified for and completed training in BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training) Class 55 and served in Vietnam with UDT 12 and UDT 13 until July 1972.

Dan moved to Houston in 1980 and became a self-employed master plumber and spent his entire career as a self employed independent businessman and had an excellent reputation for quality work and dedication to his work. Dan was an active member of the national UDT-SEAL Association and served as the founding President of the Gulf Coast Chapter of the UDT-SEAL Association from 2000-2006. He was an active member of the Republican Party, the Holley Terrace Civic Association, the National Rifle Association and the United States Parachute Association.

It has been recently said of Dan that he “Lived Out Loud!” Yes, Dan knew how to “live” and he invested his time in the things in life that he valued most. Dan was a man of deep moral conviction. Every person that knew Dan, even casually, knew the level of his faith. Dan was a devoted man of God and he tailored his life around that conviction. Dan’s life was a public demonstration of
service.

Dan loved God and determined early on, to live a life of service to the Lord. That service not only included an unfailing dedication to the family that he so deeply loved and committed to his care but, Dan’s level of service went well beyond. Dan loved his country and was deeply committed to serving this great nation, not only in words and deeds right up to the day of his death but, going back to his military days fighting for our freedoms on the battlefields of Viet Nam, with the US Navy UDT-SEALs; an organization he dedicated his entire adult life to supporting.

In short; Dan Potts was a man of immense moral conviction that was liberally demonstrated through a life without compromise. He did not compromise his faith in God, his love for his country, his love and dedication to his family, nor his love and dedication to his friends. To be a friend of Dan Potts was a special bond, for Dan knew how to be a friend, and just like everything else he did, he demonstrated his friendship as “action.” Yes, Dan did “Live Out Loud,” and for those that had the privilege of knowing him deeply, know just exactly how loud his love and devotion were.

Dan will be brought home by his fellow Navy SEALs to St. Jerome Catholic Church, 8825 Kempwood, Houston, Texas for the funeral service at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 16. Rev. Msgr. Dan Scheel and Father George Henninger will celebrate the funeral mass with a reception following in the Father Raye Center. A memorial fund has been established for the family. Please send donations to:

Amegy Bank
Janet E. Potts, Trustee
Dan Potts Memorial Fund

This caught my attention because I'd seen the name in the SEAL books I'd read. He was always spoken of with respect and admiration. God bless his family. I want people to some day say of me that I lived out loud. I'm still a bit of a mouse, but I'm working on it.