FORT WORTH, TX, USA U.S. Army SGT, COMPANY B, 2ND BATTALION, 7TH INFANTRY DIVISION (42D ID TF), FORT STEWART, GA BAIJI, IRAQ 02/04/2005
Daniel Torres and his girlfriend, Sofia Maldonado, used to talk about getting married and starting a family, and Maldonado recalled the joy they both shared when she told Torres she was pregnant with their child.
“He said he would pray for me and the baby every night,” said Maldonado, 18. “I knew that he was going to be with me forever.”
But Army Sgt. Torres, 23, of Fort Worth, Texas, died two days later on Feb. 4, 2005 in an explosion in Beiji, Iraq. He was stationed at Fort Stewart.
Rick Saldivar, Torres’ uncle, said his nephew was ecstatic about impending fatherhood. He said Torres placed great value on family.
“He was thrilled. He was so happy,” Saldivar said. “He asked all the family members to help her with anything she needed.”
Torres’ father, Sergio Torres, said his son wanted to help make Iraq a better place for the children and young men there. He also planned to use the money he earned in the military to help pay for college.
“The last time we saw him, he told us not to worry if the Army came to his house to tell us he had died,” Torres said. “He had a hunch it would happen.”