Area man serving in Iraq killed



PICO RIVERA -- For the second time in less than one week, a soldier from the Whittier area has died in the Middle East.

Army Sgt. Arthur A. Mora Jr., 23, of Pico Rivera was killed Wednesday in Balad, Iraq, when the vehicle in which he was patrolling was hit by indirect fire, according to The Associated Press.

Mora was a member of the Army's 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. He was patrolling with two other American soldiers, Army Spc. Russell H. Hahvi, 23, of Texas and Army Spc. Jose E. Rosario, 20,. of St. Croix, who were also killed.

Pfc. Joseph Cruz of Whittier was killed Oct. 15 in Afghanistan from injuries he sustained in an accident.

As of Friday, the Defense Department's Web site listed 1,983 U.S. military deaths in Iraq since March 13, 2003.

-- Correspondent Bridget Schinnerer contributed to this story.