9-11 Caring Carolina

Dan McCollum

A South Carolina Hero

            Captain Daniel G. McCollum was an adventurous kid who always wanted to fly.  On January 9, 2002, this South Carolinian was killed with six other Marines when their KC-130 crashed into a Pakistan mountainside.  Read about his life and see what people thought of him.  Our site is dedicated to him and we honor his life by doing this, so he lives on with us all.

Childhood

            As a kid, Daniel McCollum was very adventurous, smart, funny, and involved in school.  He was a Boy Scout, and Eagle Scout, a high school wrestler, and Junior ROTC member.  McCollum had a lot of friends, and spent most of his time outdoors, dreaming about flying.

Education

            McCollum was very involved in school all his life.  He graduated from Irmo High School in 1992.  Then in 1996, he graduated from Clemson University with a degree in mechanical engineering.  McCollum was commissioned as a Marine Corps officer in 1997 and earned his pilot wings in 1999.  During his school years he had a big group of friends who described him as fun, bright, loving, and proud.  Ever since he was a kid, he always knew he wanted to fly!

Friends and Family

            Daniel McCollum had many friends and family who will miss him very much.  His mother’s name is Betty Lorick and his stepfather’s name is Charlie Lorick.  He had a brother named Matt McCollum.  McCollum got married in May 2001, and his widowed wife is expecting their first and only child in July 2002.

            Friends say great things about McCollum.  Andy Cabe, an old family friend, said McCollum had so many friends because of his wit and charm.  Julie Stellers, a teacher at Irmo High School, said that even though her sons were a lot younger than McCollum, he would hang out and play with them.  Stellers says her sons still talk about him.

            On January 9, 2002, Daniel McCollum and six other Marines were on a KC-130 when it crashed into the mountainside in Pakistan.  Experts say it was not shot down, but the crash was due to bad weather. 

            A special service was held where family and friends could honor Daniel McCollum and other Marines.  Eugene Funderburk and Ed Martin, old time friends, buried Daniel McCollum.  But before they did that, they gave Jennifer McCollum a flag in his remembrance.  Then some people said these kind words.  Capt. Richard C. Roberts said, “When we lost Capt. Dan McCollum on January 9, we lost an amazing and beautiful person.”  Another comment said was, “Dan was a brother to us all and he is an American hero.  We love you Dan and you will always be with us."           

            Hopefully by us dedicating our Web site to Dan McCollum, we can make our small contribution to keeping his spirit alive.  This will help him to always stay with us as a proud South Carolina hero.  We are dedicating our prize money, if we win, to the:

Captain Dan McCollum Scholarship Fund

P. O. Box 566

Irmo, SC 29063 

             This will make his memory live on and on as SC students are educated in his honor.  Please feel free to make a contribution.