Major Moises Abraham “Mo” Navas was born on December 16, 1985, in David, in Panama’s Chiriquí Province, to missionary parents. He came to the United States as a boy, grew up in Germantown, Maryland, and graduated from Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg in June 2004. An avid marksman and standout athlete, he was known for infectious humor and genuine humility.
Mo enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2004, completed recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina, and served at Marine Barracks Washington, “8th and I.” He rose to sergeant and was selected for the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program, earning his degree and his commission as a second lieutenant, a “Mustang,” on July 1, 2010. After The Basic School and the Infantry Officer Course at Quantico, Virginia, he joined the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, serving from October 2011 to September 2014. He deployed to Okinawa as a platoon commander, trained alongside the forces of four partner nations across the Pacific and later served as Company G’s executive officer, deploying again to train in South Korea and Japan.
In August 2014 Mo attended Marine Special Operations Forces Assessment and Selection and went on to earn the Special Operations Officer designation. After completing the Team Commander’s Course in May 2016 he joined the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, Marine Forces Special Operations Command. In January 2018 he deployed to Jordan as team commander of Marine Special Operations Team 8232, Company H, in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, assessing, training and equipping Jordanian special operations forces alongside British, French and Canadian partners. He later served as company executive officer. His schooling included the Army’s Maneuver Captains Career Course, the Marine Combatant Diver Course and the Military Free Fall Course.
On March 8, 2020, while accompanying Iraqi Security Forces on a mission to eliminate an ISIS stronghold in the mountains of north-central Iraq, Mo was killed in action alongside a fellow Raider, Gunnery Sergeant Diego Pongo. He was 34. Already selected for major, he was posthumously promoted. His decorations include the Purple Heart, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, two Good Conduct Medals, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and the Humanitarian Service Medal.
Those who knew Mo remember a larger-than-life laugh and a father who never wanted to miss his children’s games. “In addition to being a phenomenal Marine officer and Raider, he truly was a family man, and cherished his time watching his children play sports,” said Colonel John Lynch of the Marine Raider Regiment. He was laid to rest in Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery. In his memory his family founded MANs Legacy Foundation, which helps the children of Marine Raiders pursue education, athletics, music and personal development.
Mo is survived by his wife, Liset; their children, Calleigh, Aiden, Micah and Liam; his parents, Moises Z. and Aurora Navas; and his brothers, Josue and Major Moises E. Navas.
Sources
- Marine Raider Foundation: Major Moises Navas
- U.S. Department of Defense: DOD Identifies Marine Casualties (March 2020)
- DVIDS: MARSOC identifies Marines killed in combat actions in Iraq
- MANs Legacy Foundation: About Mo
- Family-provided records on file with MVF: Moises Navas bio and 2026 honoree information sheet
