"Everything went black," said Burgos, who was preparing at the time to deploy to South Korea, in a Newsday story. "When I opened my eyes, I saw Danny there. He was smiling. He was in full gear. He put his hand out and I knew he had my back."
Burgos said Fuentes was his inspiration for joining the Army.
"Now I want to go to Iraq for him," Burgos said. "I want to go to honor his name."
Fuentes graduated from Island Tree High School and was a member of the wrestling team.
On the Newsday "His Letters from Home" Website, fellow soldiers and others paid respects Fuentes' life:
•"I grew up with Danny and had many great memories, those of which I will never forget. He was always there when I needed someone to talk to. He was like a brother. May he rest in peace."
•"Fuentes was a damn fine soldier and I will never forget him. Rest in peace, buddy."
Here's a portion of a message posted by his unit, "The Black Loins": "Rest in peace. You will always be remembered by all of us. Your Army family will miss you and will always know your death was not in vain."
Fuentes joined the Army in September of 2005, and his first assignment was to the Infantry Training Brigade at Fort Benning, Ga., where he was trained as an infantryman.
On Jan. 16, 2006, he was assigned to the newly-activated 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, as a rifleman and assistant gunner in D Company.
He attended the U.S. Army Assault School in Fort Campbell, Ky., earning his air assault badge. While in the unit he participated in numerous collective field training events to include brigade consolidated gunnery, company combined arms live fire exercises, and a rotation at the National Training Center. He deployed with the unit in early February.
Awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, and the Air Assault Badge.
He is survived by his parents, Armando and Nancy Fuentes.
