Daniel E. Tallouzi

May 12, 1984 – February 28, 2009

Daniel Eugene Tallouzi, S. Sgt., age 24, beloved and devoted son, brother, nephew, and friend was born May 12, 1984. Daniel passed away on Saturday, February 28, 2009 in Albuquerque as a result of injuries received during a Mortar Attack while a member of the 4-4 Aviation Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division. He was born in Bryan, TX and raised in the Albuquerque North Valley. Daniel attended North Valley Schools and graduated in May 2002 from Valley High School where he was a member of the Valley High School Football Team as a Lineman. Daniel enlisted into the Army upon graduation. He was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division where he completed Army Basic and AIT. He deployed to Iraq in October 2005 and on September 25, 2006 was seriously wounded in a Mortar Attack. Daniel’s ordeal after being wounded was outlined in a book titled “Pediatrician Soldier”. Daniel is survived by his loving and devoted mother, Mary Tallouzi; his sister, Jennifer Quinteros of Rio Rancho; his brother Christopher Quinteros and wife Cornelia of Harker Heights, TX; uncles Mariano Aguirre and wife Christella (Chris) of Rio Rancho, Francisco Aguirre and wife Linda of Alamogordo, NM, Martin Aguirre and wife Demaris of Lubbock, TX, Domingo Aguirre and wife Cathy of San Antonio, TX; aunts, Sister Pauline Aguirre, Superior General Franciscan Sisters of Mercy, Palma De Mallorca Spain, Natalie Ohnesorge and husband Danny of Enid, OK. Also surviving are other numerous relatives in Texas and California; and a host of friends. Daniel will be greatly missed by all whose hearts he touched. He will always be remembered as a quiet, tall, dark, and handsome young man, with a big heart, who honored us all by serving OUR country. Visitations will be Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Daniels Family Funeral Services-Alameda Mortuary. A Rosary will be recited Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m. at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 12500 Carmel Ave., NE. Interment will follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. Military Honors will be accorded by the Army National Guard. Published in the Albuquerque Journal on Tuesday, March 3, 2009

A New Mexico mom spoke Monday to the Illinois College community about her son, Daniel Tallouzi, who died of injuries suffered in Afghanistan in 2006 while he was serving in the Army. Mary Tallouzi, a spokeswoman for Wounded Warrior Project, shared the story of her son, Daniel, who suffered severe brain trauma in 2006, and the journey they shared until he died in February 2009. Tallouzi was at home when she got the call that her son had been injured on his right side, with most of the injury to his head, she said. A piece of shrapnel about the size of a quarter had entered his brain behind his ear and ricocheted, causing severe brain damage. “I could hear the words, but I couldn’t understand them. It was like he was speaking in a different language,” Tallouzi said. Tallouzi traveled to Germany, Virginia, New Jersey and eventually back home to New Mexico, remaining by her son’s side as he received treatment, she said. He was in a coma and didn’t not respond to stimulus. Despite not having their medical knowledge, Tallouzi said she pushed the doctors to do more, especially when they were not optimistic about his recovery. “I was on conference call with them, and they kept going back and forth and I just said, ‘Can I say something? This woman has a nice, vibrant, healthy plant on her desk. Why don’t we stop watering it?” she said. “There was silence on the other end of the phone.”

Tallouzi said she fought for her son and, while she couldn’t heal him, she made sure he got the best care possible. “It was my role to make sure he was taken care of,” Tallouzi said. After Daniel, 24, died in February 2009, it took Tallouzi seven months before she was active again, she said. She started by helping with local Wounded Warrior Project fundraisers before becoming a coordinator and, eventually, a speaker.

Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree / smcdaniel@myjournalcourier.com Nov. 13, 2018