Memorial Set for San Diego Soldier Killed in Enemy Attack

Lt. Jennifer Moreno, 25, of San Diego, was killed in an IED attack in Afghanistan on Oct. 6

A memorial service will be held Friday for a San Diego solider killed in an enemy attack in Afghanistan earlier this month.

1st Lt. Jennifer Moreno, 25, died in an improvised explosive device attack along with three other U.S. service members on Oct. 6 in the Zhari District.

According to the Department of Defense, Moreno was assigned to the Madigan Army Medical Center on Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Wash., and was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

On Friday at 10 a.m., family, friends and service members will gather in the Joint Base Lewis-McChord North Chapel in Tacoma to pay their respects to Moreno in a memorial ceremony.

Moreno was originally from San Diego, where she attended San Diego High School and graduated in 2006. She went on to graduate from the University of San Francisco and became an Army nurse.

Earlier this month, in a statement, Col. Ramona Fiorey said the whole medical community at Madigan was “deeply saddened” by Moreno’s death.

“We've lost a superb officer and a caring nurse who served with marked distinction and honor throughout her career,” Fiorey said.

On Oct. 8, NBC 7 San Diego spoke with Moreno's former San Diego High School ROTC instructor, 1st Sgt. Lawrance Mayorga who described Moreno as a bright, active and accomplished woman who was a leading cadet in her ROTC program.

This was Moreno's first deployment.

Three others were also killed in the enemy attack: Sgt. Patrick Hawkins, 25, of Carlisle, Pa.; Sgt. Joseph Peters, 24, of Springfield, Mo.; and Pfc. Cody Patterson, 24, of Philomath, Ore.

The soldiers were killed in the middle of the government shutdown, one day before Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced that families of troops killed in action would not receive death benefits due to the shutdown.

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