New York mourns Army Pvt. Danny Chen, killed in Afghanistan

Friday, October 7th 2011, 4:00 AM

Flags statewide are flying at half-staff Friday in memory of Pvt. Danny Chen, just 19 years old, killed in Afghanistan on Oct. 3.

A 2010 graduate of Pace University High School in Manhattan, Chen was a quiet, smart student with a unique sense of humor who set out to find purpose in life by serving his country.

Though friends and family feared for his safety, he enlisted in the Army in January, glad of having chosen his own path. Chen was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, part of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, based in Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Two months ago, he shipped out for Afghanistan.

It was there, in Kandahar Province, that Chen lost his life in circumstances under investigation.

Before he left, Chen told his loved ones not to be sad if anything should happen to him. While that is surely a tall order, they can know that New York joins them in their grief - and in their pride in a young man who followed his heart for America.