Death of a Houston hero
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Jim Moriarty is a Houston hero.
At just 27 years of age, this awesome graduate of Strake Jesuit High School and Annunciation Orthodox schools here in Houston had already served three tours of duty in Jordan as a member of the U.S. Special Forces.
Friday morning, Jim was one of three U.S. Serviceman killed as they entered the King Faisal Air Force base near Al Jafr. The troops were in Jordan as part of an ongoing effort to upgrade the Jordanian military to fight terrorism.
“That devastating knock on the door came Friday night at 9:00 p.m. last night”, says Wayne Dolcefino, the spokesman for the Moriarty family. “My friend Jim is heartbroken at the death of his only son, who had followed in his father’s service to the country.”
Houston Attorney James “Jim” Moriarty was a hero of the Vietnam war. His love for his son and his service was endless.
“This is a young man who loved serving in the army, was where he wanted to be, doing what he wanted to do. He was the most heartwarming, friendly kid you ever met. I am devastated, heartbroken,” says Jim Moriarty.
The Jordanian military is now saying the shootings were an accident, but the Moriarty family is demanding answers, and fear this was an ambush.
Jimmy Moriarty, or Jimbo, his family nickname, was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky after graduating from the University of Texas in Austin with a B.B.A. in Economics. He was due to come back to the United States in just two weeks, after a job well done helping our friends protect America.
On Facebook, his father has been sharing pictures and memories. “I was simply in awe of Jimmy’s charm. He could walk into a room with 20 strangers and within 5 minutes have 20 best friends,” says Jim Moriarty. “There will not be a day for the rest of my life where I do not grieve for his loss. And I am just one of thousands of parents who suffer the same loss.”
Jim Moriarty says his son will be brought back to Houston for a memorial service. The details are being worked out. Jimmy Moriarty will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place for so many of our fallen heroes.
