SEATTLE, WA, USA U.S. Marines LCPL, 3D PLT, 1ST TANK BN, (RCT-2, 2D MAR DIV), 1ST MAR DIV, TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA HAQLANIYAH, IRAQ 06/09/2005
Daniel Chavez went out of his way to do nice things for people – he tutored classmates in math and sent his mom four cards for Mother’s Day.
“Out of six kids, he was always the one that just grabbed your attention,” said his sister Lydia. “There was always something about him that you could just love and love and love and love.”
Chavez, 20, of Seattle, was killed June 9 in an explosion in Haqlaniyah. He was based at Camp Pendleton.
Chavez joined the Marines after graduating from high school and had talked about becoming a police officer or mechanic and buying his mother a house.
“He was one of those kids you could see was really going to make something out of his life,” teacher Terry Gosse said.
He was a graduate of Ballard High School where he was a fun-loving, motivated student who helped others and worked to improve his life. Chavez, the third oldest of six grew up in the Central District, playing basketball and baseball, his favorite sport. Chavez wanted to help people, and talked about becoming a police officer and buying his mother a house.
At school, he was a student who respected his teachers and tutored classmates in math. Chavez never missed a day of high school, and when he graduated in 2003, he received an award for perfect attendance.
“If every student was like Danny, there wouldn’t be any teachers who would think of doing anything else for a living,” teacher Steve Molnes said.
He joined the Marines after graduation. He wanted to become a heavy equipment mechanic and thought he could learn the skills in the military.
He is survived by his mother Lidia Cortedano; brothers, Oscar Chavez, Jeffrey Chavez, Johnny Cortedano; sisters Lydia Chavez and Denise Chavez. He was 20.