HUNTINGTON PARK, CA, US
U.S. Army
SSG, CO C, 2ND BN, 28TH INF RGT, SCHWEINFURT, GM
09/10/2011, FOB SHARANA, AFGHANISTAN
Thirty year old Army Staff Sergeant Daniel Anthony Quintana was part of the 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry, 172nd Infantry Brigade. The unit was based in Schweinfurt, Germany. While supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, Staff Sergeant Quintana was killed September 10, 2011 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire.
In 2003, Daniel Quintana was an Air Force police officer stationed at Moron Air Base in Spain. As a military policeman he performed a variety of police and security actions such as going on foot patrols, interacting in domestic disputes and working traffic issues as well as routine and emergency traffic management incidents. This kind of security and safety work ensuring a safe and orderly environment for others is perhaps what tugged at him and caused him to seek the Army’s front line work in Iraq or Afghanistan.
When he was off duty, he enjoyed playing racquetball with friends. The Huntington Park, California native also loved to explore Spanish cities and towns. Daniel loved serving his country and he loved going to war. That’s all he talked about. That’s what was in his blood. But, he is also remembered for being a generous, loving family man. He was the father of two children with a third on the way at the time of his death. Daniel was also remembered for being a bit of a prankster. He attended McLane and Fresno, California high schools before serving in the Air Force for four years.