Tech. Sgt. Ron O' Steen, left, and Senior Airman Benjamin Conner, both of the 320th Special Tactics Squadron, Kadena Air Base, pay tribute to Master Sgt. William McDaniel Nov. 8 by flying two American flags over the site in the Philippines where McDaniel and nine other servicemembers died in a helicopter crash on Feb. 17, 2002. (Michael Farris / Courtesy of U.S. Air Force)
Tech. Sgt. Ron O' Steen, left, and Senior Airman Benjamin Conner, both of the 320th Special Tactics Squadron, Kadena Air Base, pay tribute to Master Sgt. William McDaniel Nov. 8 by flying two American flags over the site in the Philippines where McDaniel and nine other servicemembers died in a helicopter crash on Feb. 17, 2002. (Michael Farris / Courtesy of U.S. Air Force)
A portrait of Master Sgt. William McDaniel, painted by Tech. Sgt. Ron O'Steen of the 320th Special Tactics Squadron, hangs in the Professional Development Center on Kadena Air Base. (Michael Farris / Courtesy of U.S. Air Force)
KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa — The Professional Development Center on Kadena Air Base will be dedicated Friday to the memory of a pararescueman with the 320th Special Tactics Squadron who died in the crash of an Army MH-47 helicopter on Feb. 17, 2002.
A portrait of Master Sgt. William L. McDaniel II, a flight noncommissioned officer-in-charge, now hangs in the lobby of the building dedicated to his memory. McDaniel was one of 10 servicemembers killed when their helicopter crashed into the Sulu Sea off the Philippines coast during the infiltration of Army Special Forces troops conducting counterterrorist operations in the Southern Philippines.
The crash was deemed an accident. But it’s no accident that the Professional Development Center is dedicated to him.
“For many reasons, the naming of Kadena’s PDC in honor of Bill McDaniel is fitting and appropriate,” said Maj. Brett Nelson, 320th Special Tactics Squadron commander, in a statement released for the dedication. “Given the vision and mission of the PDC, this dedication exemplifies the ideals Sergeant McDaniel served and ultimately died for.”
He said McDaniel cross- trained late in his career to be a pararescueman, often referred to as parajumpers, or PJs.
“He was a PJ who transitioned late in life from a successful career as a crew chief to do things many find unimaginable,” Nelson said. “He gave up years of dedicated hard work to pursue a dream involving mental and physical exhaustion. He dedicated himself to learning as much as he could, as quickly as possible. Kadena’s PDC has a similar methodology.
“Sergeant McDaniel would have viewed the PDC, which is devoted to professional development of the enlisted corps through education, motivation and mentorship, as a perfect venue to accomplish his goals,” Nelson said.
Nelson said McDaniel volunteered to serve as the PJ team leader in the Philippines.
“He understood that in his position … he could impart his experience to his subordinates and prevent them from having to relearn the lessons, often the hard way,” Nelson said. “There’s a similar perspective in the approach of the PDC.
“Through its professional development seminars for officers, civilians and NCOs, the PDC will provide critical training in the day-to-day details that truly make the Air Force work.”
On Nov. 8, members of the 320th Special Tactics Squadron also paid tribute to their fallen comrade by flying two American flags over the crash site. One flag now is on display in the McDaniel Professional Development Center; the other was presented to his widow, Deb McDaniel.
