Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel R. Scherry

Remember Our Heroes

Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel R. Scherry, 20, of Rocky River, Ohio

Lance Cpl. Scherry was assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died April 16, 2007 from a nonhostile accident in Anbar province.

Cleveland Plain Dealer -- Joining the Marines was a lifelong dream for Lance Cpl. Daniel Scherry, who was a star football player at Rocky River High School.
But the realization of his dream was short-lived. Scherry, who became a Marine after graduating from high school in 2005, died Monday in Iraq.

Scherry, 20, was killed in a nonhostile incident in Anbar province in western Iraq, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

Scherry, 20, had been in Iraq for a short period, the Pentagon said, but there were no further details on his death.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Kacie, Scherry's sister, said the news was shocking, and asked that the family be given privacy during a difficult period.

In a written statement the family said "Danny" loved football and the Marines.

He played on the football team for four years at Rocky River High School, including three years as a varsity starter, the family said.

Before joining the Marines, Scherry graduated from the Fire Training Academy at Cuyahoga Community College, the family statement said.

"Service in the Marines was his lifelong dream," the family stated. "In his short tenure with the Marines, he re ceived two promotions and was looked up to by members of his battalion."

Ron Lewis, head football coach for the Rocky River High School Pirates, said Scherry was passionate about the gridiron and could have played at the college level. Scherry's main position was strong safety on defense. He also played running back.

While in high school, he won the school's Heart of a Teammate award, which recognizes excellence on the field and respect from coaches and players.

"He was a standout player . . . tough and straightforward. You always knew where he stood," Lewis said. "But if you scratched the surface a little, you would find he would do anything for you. He would be there for you."

Despite his love for sports, Scherry was destined to become a Marine.

"He was always clear about going into the military," Lewis said. "He looked like a Marine. He acted like a Marine."

Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel R. Scherry was killed in action on 4/16/07.