CPT Danny Graybeal

HVHS Class of 1983

The Johnson City Press, March 11, 1991
Capt. Daniel “Danny”Graybeal, 25, Rt. 8, Okalona Estates, Johnson City, Tenn., died Wednesday, Feb. 27, 1991, during Operation Desert Storm. He was a Washington County, Tenn., native and a son of Mrs. Virginia Pickle Dugger, of the home, and the late Frank Graybeal. Capt. Graybeal was a Medevac pilot with the 507th Medical Company Air Ambulance 13th Corps Support Command at Fort Hood, Texas. He was a recipient of the Army Service Ribbon and the Air Assault Badge.  Capt. Graybeal was a Methodist. He was a 1983 graduate of Happy Valley High School, Elizabethton, Tenn. Capt. Graybeal was a 1987 graduate of East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, where he was a Distinguished Military Graduate from ROTC.
Survivors, in addition to his mother, include his stepfather, Frank K. “Sam” Dugger, of the home; two brothers, Jerry Graybeal, Elizabethton, and Rickey Graybeal, Johnson City; three sisters, Ellen Hamilton and Donna Ledford, both of Gray, Tenn., and Sue Crawford, Johnson City; one stepbrother, James Dugger, Birmingham, Ala.; maternal grandmother, Mrs. Essie Pickle, Johnson City; and several nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.

Daniel “Danny” Eugene Graybeal was the son of James Franklin Graybeal and Virginia Pickle.

He was killed in action as the result of a helicopter crash in Iraq. He was twenty-five.


N36 degrees 17.406' W082 degrees 18.313'

Daniel Graybeal is buried in the Veteran's Administration "Mountain Home", section U, site 1883.

Plaque to honor Cpt. Daniel Graybeal at ETSU ROTC Department. Johnson City, TN

The Captain Daniel E. Graybeal Memorial Scholarship has instituted a monetary award in memory of Captain Daniel Graybeal, ETSU Class of 1986. The scholarship was established to recognize the selfless sacrifice of Captain Graybeal in providing medical care for wounded American soldiers while under hostile fire during Operation Desert Storm. The scholarship recipient must be a deserving, full-time Army ROTC contracted Cadet, have an overall 2.5 GPA for all courses taken during the previous semester, demonstrate a record of success and leadership, and possess strong potential for a successful military career. The Cadet will receive a scholarship for $500. 

*All information for this individual was gathered from the East Tn Veterans Memorial webpage, honorstates.com, abmc.gov, find a grave webpage, ETSU.or/ROTC and family contributions.