Green Beret, Daughters Killed in Fire, Buried at Arlington National Cemetery

Chief Warrant Officer Cantrell will be given full military honors.
This undated image provided by the U.S. Army Special Operations Command shows Chief Warrant Officer Edward Cantrell. Cantrell died Tuesday, March 6, 2012 along with his daughters, 6-year-old Isabella and 4-year-old Natalia. Authorities say he leapt from the second floor of the burning house, wrapped himself in a blanket and ran back inside for his girls. Cantrell served a combat deployment to Iraq and five to Afghanistan, returning from the last mission in August. He earned four Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. He will be honored with a military funeral at Arlington National Cemetery. (AP Photo/U.S. Army Special Operations Command)
Published Friday, March 9, 2012

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) — The two young daughters of a decorated Green Beret who died trying to rescue them from a burning house near Fort Bragg will be laid to rest with their father at Arlington National Cemetery.

Chief Warrant Officer Edward Cantrell died Tuesday, along with 6-year-old Isabella and 4-year-old Natalia. Authorities said Cantrell leapt from the second floor of the burning home in Hope Mills, then wrapped himself in a blanket and ran inside for his daughters. Only the girl's mother and the family dog survived.

Lt. Col. April Olsen of the U.S. Army Special Forces Command said Thursday a funeral with full military honors will be scheduled later this month.

The 36-year-old Cantrell served five tours in Afghanistan and one in Iraq, earning four Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart.

Comment Now: Post Your Thoughts & Comments on This Story

Associated Press
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Green Beret, Daughters Killed in Fire, Buried at Arlington National Cemetery

Chief Warrant Officer Cantrell will be given full military honors.
This undated image provided by the U.S. Army Special Operations Command shows Chief Warrant Officer Edward Cantrell. Cantrell died Tuesday, March 6, 2012 along with his daughters, 6-year-old Isabella and 4-year-old Natalia. Authorities say he leapt from the second floor of the burning house, wrapped himself in a blanket and ran back inside for his girls. Cantrell served a combat deployment to Iraq and five to Afghanistan, returning from the last mission in August. He earned four Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. He will be honored with a military funeral at Arlington National Cemetery. (AP Photo/U.S. Army Special Operations Command)


A firefighter exits the front of a heavily damaged two story home where a Special Forces soldier died trying to rescue his 2 small children during a house fire early Tuesday, March 6, 2012 in Hope Mills, N.C.. Mother Louise Cantrell, 37, was injured in the blaze that started around 2:00 am. Edward Duane Cantrell, 36, and his daughters, 6-year old Isabella Cantrell and 4-year old Natalia Cantrell all perished in the fire. (AP Photo/The Fayetteville Observer, Marcus Castro)