Staff Sgt. James Moriarty, 27, was one of three service members killed in Jordan on Nov. 4, 2016. Today on his birthday he will be awarded the Silver Star medal.
Moriarty, Staff Sgt. Matthew Lewellen, and Staff Sgt. Kevin McEnroe were all Special Forces soldiers from 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) located at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The three soldiers were deployed on a training mission in Jordan when they were killed by a Jordanian Air Force guard.
Moriarty, Lewellen, and McEnroe were among soldiers in a four-vehicle convoy entering King Faisal Airbase through a known checkpoint. The Jordanian guard at the gate opened fire, killing McEnroe and mortally wounding Lewellen.
Moriarty was in the vehicle behind McEnroe's and Lewellen's. He and another soldier exited their vehicle to seek cover and communicate with the guard that they were U.S. trainees and posed no threat. When communication attempts failed, Moriarty drew the guard's gunfire allowing the other soldier to maneuver and incapacitate the shooter.
Moriarty's actions "were directly responsible for the survival of another Green Beret," U.S. Special Operations Command tweeted today.
The full USSOCOM investigation into the incident can be read here. The Jordanian guard would later testify during his military trial that he believed the base was under attack when he opened fire on the convoy. The guard was ultimately found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.
Moriarty's family will receive his Silver Star today in his place on what would have been his 32nd birthday.