Two Fort Riley soldiers killed in Iraq

Two 1st Infantry Division Soldiers assigned to the division’s 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team died May 22 from wounds suffered while supporting Operation New Dawn in Iraq.

Sgt. 1st Class Clifford E. Beattie and Pfc. Ramon Mora Jr. were killed in action after enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device near Baghdad. 

37-year-old Beattie is from Medical Lake, Washington and was an infantry platoon sergeant with over 16 years of Army service. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Fort Riley says this was Beattie’s third deployment to Iraq, and second since arriving at Fort Riley in August of 2008. During his career, Beattie had also served as a drill instructor at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and had earned the Expert Infantryman Badge and Combat Infantryman Badge. Beattie was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal (second award) and the Purple Heart.

19-year-old Mora is from Ontario, California and was an infantryman who joined the Army in January 2010. This was his first deployment to Iraq.

Mora was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman Badge.

The 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div., deployed to Iraq in November 2010, and serves as an advise and assist brigade under United States Division – Center in central Iraq.