United States Army Capt. Jennifer Moreno was known as an energetic student at San Diego High School before she grew up to be a national hero.
Moreno, a nurse who was killed in Afghanistan in 2013, was remembered by friends, family, veterans and others atop Mount Soledad on Saturday during a plaque ceremony honoring her sacrifice.
Moreno’s former Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor at San Diego High, Tim Hughey, said she was a skilled markswoman who could have received a scholarship for her shooting ability, but followed her dream to be a nurse instead.
“She wanted to do everything in the program. Wanted to be a leader,” said Hughey, a retired U.S. Army chief warrant officer. “She was talented, and a high-energy person who liked to do a lot of things.”
Assisted by Miguel Alatorre, founder of Plaques for Warriors, left, Maria Cordova, right, mother of Army nurse, Captain Jennifer Moreno, uncovers a photo of the plaque for her daughter, during a veteran honor ceremony and plaque presentation. (Howard Lipin / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Moreno sacrificed her life in the Zhari District of Afghanistan in October 2013 when she rushed into a live minefield to aid wounded soldiers. She was 25 years old.
Moreno was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star with “V” device (for valor) and the Combat Action Badge. Moreno has also been honored locally in many ways, including the renaming of the Veterans Affairs facility in La Jolla to the Jennifer Moreno Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Saturday’s ceremony was held to install a plaque honoring Moreno at the Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial. The plaque, placed between those of veterans from World War II, Korea, the Cold War and Vietnam, can now be seen by visitors in the northwest section facing the cross. Standing in front of the plaque, the VA facility that holds her name can be seen in the distance.
Maria Cordova, mother of Army nurse, Captain Jennifer Moreno, holds a framed poster of the plaque unveiled for her daughter, during a veteran honor ceremony and plaque presentation, at Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial in La Jolla on Saturday. (Howard Lipin / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Moreno’s mother, Maria Cordova, said after the ceremony that her daughter got the nursing bug growing up in Logan Heights. Cordova is a Mexican immigrant and often relied on free clinics for medical care while her daughter and siblings were growing up. She said that’s where her daughter got the idea to pursue a medical career to help people.
“I raised her to be very patriotic,” Cordova said.
The sounds of mariachi music filled the air Saturday on the unusually hot morning atop Mount Soledad. Students from the Mariachi Águila de Logan Memorial Educational Campus played many songs, including the national anthem. The color guard came from San Diego High School’s Junior ROTC program.
Members of Mariachi Aguila de Logan, perform during the veteran honor ceremony and plaque presentation at Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial. (Howard Lipin / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
More than 100 white chairs were placed for the ceremony but many attendees sought shade under a handful of tents. A dozen lowrider cars from Barrio Logan were parked around the memorial and about 25 motorcyclists from different clubs rode together to the event.
“(Moreno) could have built a career inside hospital walls, but she believed her skills were needed where the risk was more significant,” said Miguel Alatorre, founder of Plaques For Warriors, which paid for Moreno’s plaque. “She did not choose the easy path, she chose the necessary one.”
Moreno was a graduate of the University of San Francisco’s School of Nursing and Health Professions. She went on to be commissioned as an officer in the Army’s Nurse Corps in 2009 and served at Madigan Army Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state.
At the time of her death, she was attached to the Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment as part of the Cultural Support Team program, which embedded female soldiers with special operations units in Afghanistan to engage with local women, gather intelligence and build trust.
Members of VFW Riders Post 5867 in Lakeside, salute during the National Anthem, during the veteran honor ceremony and plaque presentation at Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial in La Jolla on Saturday. (Howard Lipin / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
The ceremony was one of many events planned this year at the Mt. Soledad memorial to honor the United States’ 250th anniversary, including ceremonies for other service members.
Many veterans and service members attended the ceremony, including one from another country. Sven Trakowski, a senior chief in the German navy, was also there to show his respect. He is stationed at Naval Base San Diego.
“We are military,” he said. “We support each other.”