Daniel Lee Munger

Daniel Lee Munger of Enterprise, AL passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, August 7, 2024, at the age of 46.

Funeral services will be held at 5:00 PM, Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at the Army Aviation Museum at Fort Novosel, AL with Chaplain Dane Rinehart officiating and Searcy Funeral Home and Crematory directing. The family will receive friends from 3:00 PM until service time.

Plans are also being made for a memorial service August 31, 2024 in Canton, Illinois. 

Daniel served as a contract instructor pilot in support of 1st battalion, 14th aviation regiment at Hanchey Army Airfield, Fort Novosel, AL. He was an experienced pilot with a 27-year career in the U.S. Army, where he retired as a CW3 AH-64D/E Instructor Pilot/Air Mission Survivability Officer (AMSO). He held a bachelor’s degree from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

Daniel began his career as an 11B Infantryman at Fort Benning, GA with follow-on Airborne school enroute to his first assignment at Fort Bragg, NC. He did two deployments to both Korea and Iraq. Daniel attended Ranger school at Fort Benning, GA in 2002. Daniel was also a Drill Instructor at Fort Benning, GA from 2006-2009. When he joined the military, he always dreamed of flying. Daniel pursued flight school when he learned there was a waiver for individuals who had PRK eye surgery. Daniel was picked up on his first look, and attended Warrant Officer Candidate School and Flight School from 2009-2011 where he became an Apache pilot. Daniel was then an aviator in A Co 1-101 attack battalion “Expect No Mercy” at Fort Campbell, KY. He also tracked and served as the AMSO at home station and while deployed to Afghanistan twice. Daniel then went on to serve as the Battalion AMSO for 1-82 attack battalion at Fort Bragg, NC. With his commitment to training, he later became an Instructor Pilot and served with A Co 1-14th aviation regiment at Fort Rucker, AL.

Daniel Munger led the resourcing and training of over 150 AH-64D/E flight school students over the course of 5 years. His dedication to student training and the education he provided to the next generation of attack aviators was unparalleled. He leveraged his over 3000 hours of flight experience to train the most lethal, competent, and capable aviators produced out of Fort Novosel, AL.

Daniel was born and raised in Dunfermline, IL. He met his wife, Mika, in Macomb, IL where they were later married. They went on to have 3 beautiful girls. Dan was a man who put his family first, not only as a role model for their kids, but everyone around him. His broad shoulders, were not just for strength, but for giving his family a soft place to land when the world got tough. He made sure to take every moment in and hold his family just a little bit closer. For those who knew him, knew he had such a zest for life and a willingness to learn anything.

You never knew what Dan was going to do next, and was always eager to share his new adventures with anyone who would listen. He was willing to tackle any job, as no job was too big for him. He didn’t shy away from constructing a retaining wall, building furniture, fencing in an acre, or installing wainscoting, even if he didn’t know how to beforehand. He would research and learn until he figured it out. Dan truly was a Jack of all trades. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved hunting with a passion. His favorite place to be was sitting in a tree stand when it was freezing cold. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, sewing, woodworking, traveling, antiquing, camping and cooking. He loved to host gatherings and make food for all his friends and family. Hands down, he made the best cheesecake.

Daniel Munger is a significant loss to both his family and the military community. He was preceded in death by a brother, Gary Mathew Munger, brother-in-law, Quin Mayhew, maternal grandparents, Marvin and Betty Jean Herrick, paternal grandparents, Paul and Mary Munger.

He is survived by his wife, Mika Munger and his 3 daughters, Madilyn, Sadie, and Cora all of Enterprise, AL; mother, Debra Gregg (Lloyd), of Dunfermline, IL; father, Ron Munger, of Macomb, IL; 3 sisters, Jennifer Munger of Cuba, IL; Angela Mayhew of Dunfermline, IL; Heaven Munger of The Dalles, OR; Step-sister, Helen Gregg Powers of Fort Wayne, IN.