Peter Alan Dannenberg

January 19,1971 - June 6, 2021

Lieutenant Colonel Peter “Pete” Dannenberg was born in New York, New York, to the late Richard and Loretta Dannenberg. Early in Pete’s life, his family moved to Pennsylvania where he grew up and graduated from Hollidaysburg Area High School. From the beginning, Pete was smart, funny, focused, athletic, and hard-working. His All-American life and story came as no surprise to those who knew him, but the tragic ending was something that no one could have ever imagined.

Pete’s childhood was full of dreams and adventure. In 1978, Pete saw Stars Wars and it became a lifelong addiction. It isn’t hard to imagine Pete as the young Luke Skywalker naturally talented and destined to battle the forces of darkness in the universe. His fascination with the story and his dedication to the light was a foreshadowing of the path his life would take.

Besides movies, Pete was an avid reader. Whether it was his vast collection of comic books, a classic novel, or a piece of non-fiction, Pete could routinely be found buried in his reading.

Pete didn’t spend all his time of books, though. He was very active training his body in addition to his mind. As a youth Pete tried basketball and baseball but they would not become his serious physical pursuits. Beginning in childhood and continuing through his teens, Pete trained in Cheonkido (an offshoot of Hapkido) ultimately earning his 2^nd Dan Black Belt.

Pete was also actively engaged in High School sports. Pete wrestled for a short time but invested most of his energy in swimming and cross country. His cross-country tenure earned him the nickname Pete, “the feet”, Dannenberg.

Pete held various jobs in high school including mowing grass and working outside at the Lemon House through a National Park Service program. But his steady job was at Hoss’s Steak and Sea House. Pete was not afraid of hard, dirty work… starting as a dish washer and working his way up to the cook’s line. While always diligent and focused on the task at hand, Pete provided levity and light moments for his co-workers in a fast paced, hot, and sometimes frantic work environment.

Pete’s clever intellect and charming personality hid the truly tough man that he had become as he finished high school and made the decision that would set the course for the rest of his life. Mentally and physically tough, Pete finished high school destined for a career of service to his country and its citizens.

Upon graduation, Pete reported to the United States Military Academy at West Point. In 1993 he was commissioned as a 2^nd Lieutenant Infantry Officer and assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division.

Pete took to his military career with vigor and served in multiple leadership roles including Rifle Platoon Leader, Heavy Weapons/Anti-Tank Platoon Leader, Support Platoon Leader, and Company Executive Officer. Like the Jedi warriors that fascinated Pete in his childhood, he was destined to serve among the most elite guardians of human values and dignity. To that end, Pete completed the rigorous Special Forces Qualification Course and earned the coveted Green Beret. He would spend the rest of his career dedicated to the Special Forces Motto: De Oppresso Liber (“To Liberate the Oppressed”).

As a Special Forces Officer, Pete commanded multiple Special Forces Operational Detachments (A-Teams). Remarkably, he had almost four years of team time due to his outstanding leadership skills and the deep respect he had earned from his men. His next assignment was at Special Operations Command-Europe (SOCEUR), where Pete managed Sensitive Activities and Special Programs for regional contingency operations. After serving as a Contingency Operations Planner, he returned to command C Company, 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Commander’s In-Extremis Force (CIF)). During his time in Special Forces, he deployed on several occasions throughout the Balkans and Eastern Europe, and on staff and in command on combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Pete accepted a position on the Joint Staff, Special Operations and Counterterrorism Directorate in the Pentagon before his final culminating assignment to the CIA as the Special Operations Command Liaison for the U.S. European Command.

Along the way, Pete found his future wife, Christa Haegele of Stuttgart, Germany. As Christa would tell you, they met on Halloween…. Pete dressed as a Rock Star and Christa as a Nun. It is a fine metaphor for the life that Pete led… bigger than life… smiling, joking, and charming a Nun out of her habit to become his wife and the mother of his children.

Pete and Christa became the parents of two fine children: a son Lukas and a daughter Sophia. The family eventually followed Pete’s career back to the United States, settling in McLean Virginia.

In August 2020, Pete retired from the Army after twenty-seven years of service. He then accepted a position with PRKK L.L.C. in the Office of the Secretary of Defense Strategic Capabilities Office (OSD-SCO) as the EUCOM Special Activities Coordinator. Both in school and throughout his career, Pete was highly respected and admired for his sense of humor and sharp intellect.

Lieutenant Colonel Dannenberg graduated from several basic and advanced Infantry and Special Operations courses and the German General Staff College. His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (w/Oak Leaf Cluster), Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint and Army Achievement and Commendation Medals, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Master Parachutist wings, Ranger and Special Forces tabs.

Pete was active in the Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus. After retirement, Pete immersed himself in his faith, learning and seeking understanding and spiritual growth. Pete pursued learning to pray the rosary in Latin and served as an inspiration for those who knew him to seek deeper knowledge and understanding themselves.

After having spent years serving his country, Pete took to serving his family in retirement. He involved himself with his daughter Sofia’s basketball and volleyball teams. Pete spent time with his son Lukas on boy scout activities, music and learning to drive.

Sadly, Pete took his own life on June, 6 2021 at his home in McLean, Virginia, leaving behind his beloved wife, Christa, his teenage son Lukas, and his teenage daughter Sophia. Pete is also missed by his sister, Carol Dannenberg, aunts, uncles, cousins, and his very special four-legged, canine buddy Chloe.

After a life of service to his country and the highest ideals that it stands for, he became another face in the tragedy that is Veteran suicide. Since 9/11/2001, suicide has become the second-leading cause of death for veterans. But Pete will not be remembered for how he died…. He will be remembered for how he lived.

Pete will be remembered as a loving and protective husband and father; a generous and giving member of the community; a trusted leader and team member; and a fierce friend. So, raise your glass and join Pete’s family, friends, and colleagues in saying “Cheers to Pete! Godspeed my friend. May you rest in God’s loving arms until we meet you again in glory.”