Born on the First Day of the War, Killed on the Last Day: Davit Would Have Turned 20 Today

Today, in the village of Hovtashat in the Ararat province, Davit Danielyan, born on September 27, 2001, would have turned 20 years old. His relatives, friends, and teachers placed flowers near the cross erected in memory of Davit Danielyan, a participant of the 44-day war, next to the cultural house of Hovtashat.

There is something mystical about the dates of his birth and death; he was born on September 27 and killed on the last day of the war in Martuni. The last time he spoke with his family was on November 7. Before his death, according to relatives and friends, he retrieved the bodies of fallen or wounded comrades from the battlefield.

During the hottest days of the war, Davit found a way to cheer his mother on her birthday by sending a cake home. He had concealed his injury from his family. He only called once and happily said, "Mom, Dad, your son has received a medal for bravery." The last conversation with his family was on November 7, and just two days later, on November 9, he was killed. He fought alongside his friends until the end, pulling their immobile or injured bodies from the battlefield.

Davit had a keen interest in sports, participating in football and boxing, and he loved to draw. His relatives describe him as reserved, intelligent, incredibly friendly, and patriotic. He was a fourth-year student at the State College of Informatics in Yerevan. Despite having the opportunity to defer his service, he was drafted into the army on December 24, 2019, leaving his studies unfinished, serving as a tank sniper in the Armavir region, and later in Mataghis and Talish.

Before the war, he proudly called home, boasting about his tank, saying "it shot so beautifully."