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Knowing the risks, soldier gave his all

Lecanto High graduate Dennis J. Flanagan's friends and former teachers say he understood the dangers of war but served with pride anyway.

By APRIL SIMPSON
Published January 25, 2006

	[Times photo: Stephen J. Coddington]
	Lt. Col. Mike Harmes, senior Army instructor with Lecanto High School's Junior ROTC program, pauses to regain his composure Tuesday while recalling former student Dennis J. Flanagan, right, who was killed when a roadside bomb blew up his vehicle in Iraq. Harmes called Flanagan a "super student" who came in with more military knowledge than others.

LECANTO - The last time several Lecanto High School teachers saw Dennis J. Flanagan, a 2001 graduate, he resembled the teenager they remembered but exuded the maturity of a soldier.

In full Army uniform, Flanagan had just returned from his first tour of duty in Iraq. Although he shared stories of the suffering he witnessed abroad, Flanagan maintained an unwavering commitment to military service.

"We've had several students return, and they realize real quick that bravery is different in real life than in actual definition, and he knew," said Freddie Bullock, a physical education teacher. "He wasn't scared."

Flanagan was killed Friday along with three other soldiers when their vehicle was blown up by a roadside bomb in Hawijah, Iraq. He was 22.

On Tuesday, Flanagan's friends and former teachers came to grips with the fact that this young man, a military buff with a keen appreciation for American history, wasn't coming home.

"I just broke down," said Ankoor Patel, 24. "I couldn't even stand."

Lecanto High observed a moment of silence in Flanagan's honor. An enlarged yearbook photo was on display in the front office, and a memorial was dedicated to him by the Junior ROTC.

In high school, Flanagan was actively involved with the JROTC, moving up the ranks to become a first lieutenant his junior year, Lt. Col. Mike Harmes said.

Harmes described Flanagan as a "super student" who entered the JROTC with a military bearing, which he gained during his involvement with the Civil Air Patrol squadron. Unlike other freshmen, Flanagan already knew how to march and how to wear a uniform, earning Harmes' recommendation to a summer program at Camp Blanding, near Starke.

Harmes said he will never forget how the sole of Flanagan's shoe became detached, but Flanagan completed exercises including marching and rifle firing without complaint.

"I said, "Why didn't you tell anybody?"' Harmes said. "He said, "I didn't want to tell anybody. I didn't want to make waves."

After high school, Flanagan initially attended Central Florida Community College but enlisted with the Army a week after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"He said he just couldn't stand around and let this stuff happen to our country," said Ken Crandall, who graduated with Flanagan. "He didn't feel comfortable just sitting back, which I think is admirable."

Flanagan was part of the air assault infantry that invaded Iraq in 2003. He returned to Iraq in September for his second tour of duty.

The death reminded Bill Hartley, a Lecanto High history teacher, of losing his father in the Vietnam War almost 40 years ago.

"I know some of what the family is going through," Hartley said. "There's always going to be an empty place at the table."

Many educators said they hoped Flanagan's death will have meaning and that there will soon be an end to the conflict in Iraq. They agreed that Flanagan was doing his duty and knew the dangers of military service before he enlisted.

Many teachers also said Flanagan was wise beyond his years and, unlike his peers, could step back and see the big picture.

He understood that victory could not be attained without taking action. He refused to sit back and allow terrorism and brutality to takeover.

Harmes shared Flanagan's story with students but said many still think they are invincible and too far removed from Flanagan to understand the vulnerabilities of a military soldier.

Harmes was sure Flanagan was aware of the risks. In fact, Flanagan wrote a poem in high school, "A Soldier's Prayer to His Son," in which the speaker, in a final prayer to his son before dying, asks him to seize the moment, love family and friends, and remain in good standing.

The fourth stanza reads: "And now, my son, I pray to thee. Never ever forget me; that I died a soldier's death, to keep you free with my last breath."

[Last modified January 25, 2006, 00:54:10]