|
It was brought to my attention by Pam Ayala McKee ('66) that we did not have a buriel date for Danny Sotak '66, she furnished me a contact with DeathFigures.com giving us a date of 1 January 1971. Danny has been carried as one of many who were reported and reside back in the 'Halls of Valhalla' walking with all the rest who proceeded him and those to date. He is back to a time when life was of innocense and the sun was warm on our back... a wonderful time of our youth! Rest easy Danny you will not be forgotten...
|
Chris Braden (1967)
Danny was my older brother John's close friend, but I also knew Danny. He was a good natured and friendly classmate. He was one year ahead of me at MVHS and in the same class as my brother John. He lived down the street from us on Edgemont Street in Edgemont just north of Cottonwood Avenue. All three of us (myself, John and Danny) were Boy Scouts in Troop 93 which, at the time,was located in the old water company building on the northwest corner of Edgemont Street and Cottonwood Avenue. We all spent two weeks of the summer at Fallbrook in a Boy Scout campout with several other troops in the summer of '62 before we ever attended MVHS, which, I believe, opened in the fall of '65 with the first graduating class in '66. Danny liked to work on cars and I vaguely seem to remember him owning a black '55 or '56 Chevy during high school at MVHS but it's foggy and I'm not sure. He taught me some basics for working on cars before I ever owned my first car. He was also friends with Johnny Combs, who didn't attend MVHS but rather old Poly HS in Riverside. We all hung out together on a regular basis. He is missed.
Dale Ashley (1966)
Danny was my 'brother' he lived with my family and I starting in 9th grade through our graduation in 1966. After graduation, Danny, Steve Small, Chris Gingerella and myself all joined the Navy on the same day. Danny and I were stationed together at North Island Naval Air Station, on Coronado Island in San Diego for two years. After our two years there I was assigned to the USS New Orleans LPH11, and set off for Vietnam. Danny was assigned to the USS Okinawa LPH3, but before seeing any sea duty he was discharged for sleep walking.
I didn't see Danny for the two years of sea duty but he came to visit a couple of weeks after my discharge. A few days later he was murdered. At least I got to see him one last time before he needlessly lost his life.
Most do not know that Danny's full name was, Daniel Dale Sotak. I have named my own son after him. His name is Daniel Dale Ashley. It's the least I could do to honor my best friend/brother.
To correct a couple of things from a previous post. Danny owned a 57 ford, that he bought from my brother. It had a 312 cu/in, bored with oversize pistons, milled heads and a 3/4 race cam. One other correction, John Combs did attend MVHS and graduated with us. After high school he was drafted into the Army, served one tour of duty in Vietnam with another friend of ours from Perris High School, Alan Miller. (Who I still fish with at least two times a month). After the Army John became a minister and last I heard was someplace in AZ.
I miss you Dan.