Marine Pfc. McClenney was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He was killed by hostile fire near Bari Khout, Afghanistan. Daniel was a graduate of Shelbyville Central High School in Shelbyville, Tennessee. He was a shy kid who lost his mother while still in his teens and was devoted to his grandparents, especially his MeMa. After graduation, he wanted to do something more with his life so he joined the Marines. NASCAR was his passion and he already had plans to become a police officer when he got out of the military. But life already had something extraordinary planned for Daniel. On June 24, 2004, Daniel's fire team sought to locate and disarm enemy militia in the Konar Province of Afghanistan. Enemy fire from two ambush positions intended to support a larger attack on other Marines and Coalition forces at Firebase Naray. The enemy would have dealt a detrimental blow had Daniel's fire team not reacted in a quick and decisive manner. Daniel continued to engage the enemy despite being wounded on the initial burst of enemy fire. After his team leader was killed, he took over radio communications and gave constant situation reports to the firebase and quick reaction force for 30 minutes. Daniel aggressively exchanged fire with the enemy while simultaneously requesting medical evacuation for his entire team. With a severe wound to his abdomen and a broken arm, Daniel displayed an indomitable fighting spirit as he fought hand-to-hand, until he was mortally wounded. This shy 19 year old small-town kid was posthumously awarded the Silver Star – the military's third-highest combat award and is given for gallantry in combat. But the tribute that would probably have meant the most to Daniel was delivered by LCpl Brian Mobley who had been in the same fire fight and was severely wounded as a result. Brian said, "He was a helluva Marine".