#VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran Jennifer Moreno

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Jennifer Moreno, a San Diego native and cultural support team member killed in Afghanistan in 2013.

Jennifer Moreno was born in San Diego and graduated from San Diego High School. She commissioned in the U.S. Army as a nurse corps officer after graduating from the University of San Francisco with a nursing degree.

She served with the Madigan Army Medical Center medical center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, as a clinical staff nurse on a medical surgical unit. After completing Army airborne training in 2009, she volunteered for a position with U.S. Army Special Operations Command.

Moreno served with a joint special operations task force as a cultural support team member, the only combat role at that time for female soldiers. She was just three months into her first deployment with the Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment. On a mission in the Zhari district in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, she died Oct. 6, 2013, after an improvised explosive device blast.

Along with Moreno, two Army Rangers, Sgt. Patrick C. Hawkins, 25, and Pfc. Cody J. Patterson, 24; and Army Special Agent Joseph M. Peters, 24, also died.

In addition to a Bronze Star Medal, Moreno posthumously promoted to captain. She also received a Combat Action Badge, a Meritorious Service Medal, a Purple Heart, an Afghanistan Campaign Medal and a NATO Medal.

She is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California, Section W, Site 974.

We honor her service.

As it did last year, this year National Cemetery Administration is collaborating with Carry The Load for Memorial Day to honor fallen Veterans. Both NCA and Carry The Load are honoring select “Veterans of the Day” with remembrances on social media during May.

Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.

Contributors

Writer: Jim Theres

Graphic artist: Steve Ellmore