[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24861]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              MEMORIAL TRIBUTE TO SGT. ARTHUR A. MORA, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GRACE F. NAPOLITANO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 3, 2005

  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, it is with deepest sympathy that I pay 
a special tribute to my constituent Sgt. Arthur A. Mora, Jr., who was 
killed in Balad, Iraq on October 19 when his vehicle was hit by enemy 
fire. His passing at the age of 23, marks the end of a young and 
promising life which had already exemplified duty, honor and heroism.
  Arthur will be remembered as the quiet student at El Rancho High 
School in Pico Rivera who missed having his photo taken for the senior 
yearbook. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 27, 
2000. Upon completion of basic training, Arthur was assigned to the 1st 
Battalion, the 3rd Air Defense Artillery, and the 3rd Infantry Division 
followed by Bravo Battery 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment at Camp 
Pelham, Korea. He returned to the 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry at Fort 
Stewart, Georgia. In July 2005, Sgt. Mora was deployed in support of 
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  Sgt. Mora's awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, 
the Combat Action Badge, the Good Conduct Medal, the Army Achievement 
Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Ribbon, the 
Army Service Medal, and the Korean Defense Service Medal.
  Family members say they draw comfort in knowing that Arthur was doing 
what he wanted. He was a young man who loved the military and would 
have most likely made a career in the Army.
  Arthur is survived by his wife Veronica, daughters Olivia, Celina and 
a newborn son, Christopher, whom he had never seen. He is also survived 
by his mother Sylvia Mora of Montebello, sisters Michelle, Celia, and 
his brother Paul.
  His family and friends will miss this caring young man greatly, and 
to them I extend my sincerest heartfelt sympathy and pray that they 
will receive God's comforting graces in their time of sorrow.

                          ____________________