SFC Daniel Aaron  Romero

19th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

15 April 2002

U.S. Special Forces Soldier Killed in Afghanistan

Sgt. 1st Class  Daniel Aaron  Romero  30 a Green Beret from  Lafayette, Colorado

Romero, of the Colorado Army National Guard, was Killed in Action April 15 in Afghanistan when rockets he was attempting to dismantle exploded. 

He was a member of the 

Company B, 5th Battalion 

19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) 

Based in Pueblo, Colo. 

He was posthumously awarded Eight Medals, including: 

Purple Heart

Bronze Star

Legion of Merit

Dan's funeral mass was celebrated in Louisville, Colo., on May 9. 

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Gabriella Romero center grieves for her brother Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Romero at a memorial service for him. "We should never express a word of pity for the loss of their husband and son," Maj. Gen. Mason Whitney, commander of the Colorado National Guard, said of the Romero family in ceremonies at the Denver armory. "He deserves more. We should express respect for his service."
		MG Whitney presents the flag to  Stephanie Wendorf,  wife of Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Romero  during services at  Fort Logan National Cemetery . Original Photo: Cliff Grassmick The Daily Camera
Stephanie Wendorf, center,  Dan's wife is comforted by  Dan's mother, Geralyn.  Dan's sister Stephanie and his father Michael are also pictured. Original Photo: Cliff Grassmick The Daily Camera
		Gabrielle Romero, left,  kisses her sister Stephanie  during the memorial service of  their brother Daniel Romero.   Original Photo: Cliff Grassmick The Daily Camera
The Honor Guard  carries the flag draped casket of  Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Romero into  Fort Logan National Cemetery.    Original Photo: Mark Leffingwell The Daily Camera
		The motorcade for Daniel Romero  makes its way down South Boulder Road in  Lafayette on its way to  Ft. Logan Cemetery. Original Photo: Mark Leffingwell The Daily Camera
Geralyn Romero  touches the casket of her son,  Daniel Romero,  at his memorial service at  Saint Louis Catholic Church  in Louisville.   Original Photo: Cliff Grassmick The Daily Camera
		The "Pall," or Baptism cloth,  is spread over the casket of  Daniel Aaron Romero  by family members during his  memorial service at  Saint Louis Catholic Church in  Louisville on Thursday.   Original Photo: Cliff Grassmick The Daily Camera

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May 29, 2002 WASHINGTON (Army News Service)

Colorado Army Guard Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Romero, 30, was killed on April 15 with three other U.S. soldiers when a 107mm rocket exploded as they were destroying captured weapons near Kandahar, explained U.S. Central Command officials. 

Yet another Guard soldier has returned to his wife and two children in Texas to recover from a bullet wound to his face after he, too, became a casualty in the same dangerous land. Colorado 1st Lt. Gregory James Miller, 36, who lives in College Station, Texas, was wounded in the cheek during a presence patrol along a crowded city street April 17. His jaw has been wired shut since April 20, said Miller, who added that he is prepared to return to Afghanistan after he heals. 

Along with his injuries, Miller has had to come to terms with the idea that Romero died in his place. That's because Miller, a physicians assistant, was originally scheduled to provide medical coverage for members of the active Army's 710th Explosive Ordnance Detachment who were sent out on April 15 to destroy the captured weapons. 

"Dan said he wanted to provide the medical support because he was tired of being around the base camp. He wanted to do more than he was doing. So he went in my place," explained Miller on the Sunday before Memorial Day. "The fact that he was killed was tough to take, but another soldier was injured in that explosion, and it helped that I was able to care for him when he was brought back to the base camp."