Chief Warrant Officer Three Hershel D. “Dan” McCants, Jr. died 18 February 2007 in southeastern Afghanistan when his MH-47E Chinook helicopter, #472, crashed while conducting training operations in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

CW3 McCants was born on 2 April 1973 in Medford, Oregon. He volunteered for service in the U.S. Army as a Combat Engineer in October 1991 and attended Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. After an initial assignment as a Combat Engineer at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, CW3 McCants attended the Special Forces Engineer Course. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the 1st Special Forces Group, Fort Lewis, Washington. CW3 McCants was accepted into and graduated from the U.S. Army Warrant Officer Program in 2000 at Fort Rucker, Alabama. In 2001, he attended the Aviation Warrant Officer Basic Course and Initial Entry Rotary Wing training.

After completing his UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter qualifications at Fort Rucker, Alabama, CW3 McCants was assigned as a Tactical Operations Officer and an Aeromedical Evacuation Pilot with the 54th Medical Company, 62nd Medical Brigade, Fort Lewis, Washington. He applied and successfully assessed to serve in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) in 2005. CW3 McCants was assigned to Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 160th SOAR(Abn) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he served as an MH- 47E Chinook Helicopter Pilot.

CW3 McCants was a graduate of the UH-60 Aircraft Qualification Course, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) Course, CH-47 Aircraft Qualification Course, Special Operations Training Course, SAPPER Leader Course, Special Forces Qualification Course, Airborne School, and the Combat Lifesaver Course.

CW3 McCants' awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (w/1 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (w/3 OLC), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd Award), National Defense Service Medal (w/2 Bronze Service Stars), Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal (w/2 Bronze Service Stars), NCO Professional Development Ribbon (w/Numeral 2), Army Service Ribbon, Expert Infantryman Badge, Army Aviator Badge, Airborne Badge,

Special Forces Tab, and Sapper Tab. CW3 McCants was posthumously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Medal.

CW3 McCants is survived by his wife, Shannon; his son, Trevor; his daughter, Kylie; his mother, Goldie; and his father, Hershel Sr. He is laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 60, Site 8542. The 4th Battalion, 160th SOAR(Abn) hangar at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, is dedicated in his honor as McCants Hangar.