Honor your hero with thoughts, memories, images and stories.
Arthur, or Art as he was known to friends and family, was one of four children raised by a single mother and a large extended family. He was quiet and fun-loving who “would always make people laugh,” his sister recalled. When Art was 6 years old, his passion for the military was sparked when he paid a visit to the American Military Museum in South El Monte, California. “When he saw all the tanks he fell in love with the idea of joining the Army,” said his mother, Sylvia Mora. “After that he would spend hours playing with his little Army guys.” He never wavered in his vision, and he enlisted within a month of graduating from El Rancho High School in 2000. Art met his wife, Veronica, at a restaurant in Ohio when he was on his way to attend the Detroit Auto Show with some of his Army buddies. They have a daughter, Celina, and son, Christopher, together, and Art was in the process of adopting Veronica’s young daughter, Olivia, from a previous relationship. Christopher was born only 8 days before Art was killed. Art never met his son, but was able to see emailed photos of him. Veronica recalls that Art excelled in everything, but he shined the brightest when it came to his family. He was a wonderful son, caring brother, a doting dad, devoted husband and his wife’s best friend. He was never angry or unwilling to help. He was injured while in training, but was very excited to join his comrades on patrol. He was great leader and he had a positive impact on his on his comrades’ morale. Art was known within his military unit as a valuable team member. Arthur was killed in action on October 19, 2005 while defending Operation Iraqi Freedom in Balad, Iraq. He was assigned to the 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division at Ft. Stewart, Georgia. 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.
This photo was taken at our rehearsal dinner, the night before our wedding. It is one of my favorite pictures and reminds me of happier times. <3