Nineteen-year-old U.S. Army Private Danny Chen, who was sent to combat in Aghanistan two months ago, was reportedly killed early last week. Officials are still investigating the cause of his death, though media reports allege Chen might have been the victim of racial discrimination by fellow soldiers.
Chen, who was raised in Chinatown, attended Chinatown Head Start preschool, P.S. 130 elementary school and Pace High School before enlisting in the army earlier this year.
Renny Fong, a computer teacher at P.S. 130, said he remembers his former student very fondly.
“He was a little goofy, but he was a really great kid who made everyone smile,” said Fong.
Fong and many others will commemorate Chen at his funeral, scheduled for Thurs., Oct. 13 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Wing Wah Sang funeral home on Mulberry Street.
