"He always wanted to pay back, as he put it, his freedom. He wanted to give other people the opportunities he had. People need to know the opportunities they get in this world come from the sacrifices of others, and that’s how Daniel looked at it." -- Tracy Beede, Mother. Marine Sgt.Daniel Gurr died Friday, August 5, 2011 in Malozai, in the Sangin district of the deadly Helmand province of Afghanistan, shot in the head by small-arms fire while he was on patrol. He was 21 years old. Gurr was the fourth Utah serviceman to die in Afghanistan this summer. His family said he’s the first Vernal service member to die in combat since the Vietnam War.