The 2nd annual Danny Dietz Memorial Roping Weekend will be held May 21-22, 2011 at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center, Katy, Texas: Roping is 9:30 AM sharp.

The Event: Sponsored by Dan Quinlan and Company for US Navy SEAL Danny Dietz Memorial Team Roping benefiting Naval Special Warfare Foundation, honors fallen Navy SEALS.

$8,000 in cash prizes along with Resistol Hats, Buckles and additional prizes awarded. For information, contact Chaise Burleson, Association Sec, Texas Classic team Roping Association, (281)-728-5533 web site http://www.texasclassicteamroping.com/

Danny Dietz Jr. was born on January 26, 1980 in Aurora, Colorado. Growing up with a great love for horses and the outdoor life, Danny held a great appreciation for the American Cowboy. In 1999 after graduating from Heritage High School, Littleton, Colorado, he enlisted in the Navy and earned his SEAL trident pin in 2001. He was subsequently assigned to (SDV) SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team Two in Virginia Beach, VA. There he met and married his wife Maria L. Dietz in March 2003. In April 2005, Dietz deployed with his Special Reconnaissance element to Afghanistan to support Naval Special Warfare Squadron TEN and the prosecution of the Global War on Terrorism.

Dietz was part of an elite team of four SEALs on a reconnaissance mission "tasked with finding a key Taliban leader in mountainous terrain near Asadabad, Afghanistan," according to a Navy news release.

On June 28, 2005, SEAL Team 10 was assigned to kill or capture a high ranking Taliban leader in the Hindu-Kush mountains. The SEAL team was made up of Michael P. Murphy, Marcus Luttrell, Danny Dietz and Matthew Axelson. Luttrell and Axelson were the team's snipers while Dietz and Murphy were the spotters.

They were spotted by anti-coalition sympathizers, who immediately reported their position to Taliban fighters. A fierce gun-battle ensued between the four SEALs and a much larger enemy force with superior tactical position," the Navy release said. The SEALs radioed for help, and a responding Chinook helicopter was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade, killing eight more SEALs and eight Army NightStalkers. It was the worst single combat loss for the SEALs in SEAL history, since Vietnam. Gunner's Mate 2nd Class Danny Philip Dietz Jr. (January 26, 1980 - June 28, 2005) U.S. Navy SEAL was posthumously awarded the United States' 2nd highest citation for valor, the Navy Cross, on 13 September 2006.

The Danny Dietz Memorial Team Roping event honors this American Hero and the many Men and Women who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. If you wish to donate to the Danny Dietz Memorial Foundation, please contact Danny Quinlan daq@sbcglobal.net or the United States Navy SEAL Foundation http://www.nswfoundation.org/

You can also join friend with the Danny Dietz Memorial page on facebook
https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/dannydietzpage