Capt. Moises A. Navas, 34, of Germantown, Maryland, died March 8, 2020, while clearing a tunnel complex of Islamic State fighters in the Makhmur Mountains of southern Iraq. Gunnery Sgt. Diego D. Pongo, 34, was also killed in the incident. Both Marines were assigned to the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, Marine Forces Special Operations Command, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Navas’ personal awards included a Purple Heart, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, two Good Conduct Medals, and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and four Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, according to the release.
Navas also enlisted in the Corps in 2004, becoming a sergeant before earning his officer commission through the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program, the MARSOC release said. He became a Marine Raider in 2016 where he spent the last four years as a team commander and company executive officer, the release said. Navas had recently been selected for promotion to Major the release added.
