Honoring the military legacy of his father brings one man’s family together

Daniel Maloney II was born into a family of service.

“It’s important for him to understand the sacrifice,” Daniel Maloney II said.

The dad he would never know, gave the ultimate sacrifice two weeks before Daniel was even born.

“My husband’s father died in Vietnam,” said wife of Daniel Maloney II, Eva Maloney. “I think it changed his life in a lot of ways. But not knowing, the wishing he could’ve known, what was I missing, what would my life and been like if he was still around. So, it was very sad for him.”

But Daniel Maloney II’s wife Eva Maloney knew moments where her husband’s father is honored, bring her family closer to the hero they never got to meet.

Eva Maloney worked with Congressperson Francis Rooney and the Southwest Florida Military Museum to award Sgt. Daniel Maloney with the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and many more awards.

“How we earned them and the reasons behind them I just think it’s really cool,” said granddaughter Alexa Maloney.

“I wish he was here because he deserves to be presented with these metals,” said grandson Daniel Maloney III.

The metals mean so much more as they are tangible reminders of a man who enlisted at 18-years-old.

“For my son to understand how important the military is in the freedoms that we have are because of the sacrifices that are made,” Daniel Maloney II said.