Joan Duran remembered

It was a “fairy tale” romance, shattered by a tragic accident that claimed the life of Roxbury paratrooper Joan J. Duran.

“He was the most loving, caring guy. He gave me two rings to represent forever and ever, because he always said he would love me forever and ever,” said Duran’s heartbroken girlfriend, Andrea Silva, 17, of Woburn.

She opened her heart to the Herald as she described her “fairy tale” romance with the gentle 24-year-old GI who died Aug. 10 while serving his country in Baquba, Iraq, when a bomb unexpectedly exploded.

“He was very, very romantic. For our first date he took me at night to a hill which overlooks Boston and the whole city was lit up. That’s when we had our first kiss,” Silva giggled.

It was the beginning of a powerful bond that kept the couple close despite the thousands of miles and months that separated them while Duran served with the 82nd Airborne Division.

“When he was stationed in North Carolina, we talked every night for hours and all day,” Silva said.

“He also wrote a lot of poems and songs for me. He actually recorded a song of all the memories of the things we did together. He was amazing.”

Even when his country called him for a second tour of Iraq in August 2006, the couple’s love did not wane.

“It was very hard to take but it was worth it. He was the best boyfriend a girl could wish for. It was a fairy tale,” Silva said.

Duran wanted to move in with his soulmate and train to become a high school math teacher when his service ended in October.

Silva said her beau was excited about the couple having their own home by Christmas.

But those hopes and dreams were cruelly crushed when news of the Roxbury soldier’s death hit home.

“I was at work when I got the call. I immediately started crying and fell to the ground. I couldn’t believe it,” Silva said.

From the Boston Herald

Related Link:
Joan J. Duran dies 'of injuries suffered from a non-combat related incident'