Two War Critic Soldiers Killed in Iraq

Sept. 12, 2007 — -- The last words of the op-ed written by seven soldiers serving in Iraq were courageous and poignant.

"We need not talk about our morale. As committed soldiers, we will see this mission through."

Sadly, that mission came to an end for two of those soldiers just three weeks after that editorial was published in The New York Times.

Sgt. Omar Mora, 28, and Staff Sgt. Yance T. Gray, 26, two of the authors of "The War as We Saw It," were killed in Baghdad Monday when the five-ton cargo truck they were riding in overturned.

Another of the authors, Staff Sgt. Jeremy Murphy, was shot in the head while the group was working on the article.

The controversial Aug. 19 editorial gained international attention for its skepticism about the American war effort: "To believe that Americans, with an occupying force that long ago outlived its reluctant welcome, can win over a recalcitrant local population and win this counterinsurgency is far-fetched."

The news of their deaths arrived as Gen. David Petraeus was finishing his testimony to Congress about the progress of the military's surge in Iraq.

Several senators invoked the editorial during the debate. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) read from the op-ed and Sen. Chuck Hagel referenced it while challenging Petraeus.

"By the way, I assume you read The New York Times piece two weeks ago -- seven NCOs in Iraq, today, finishing up 15-month commitments. Are we going to dismiss those seven NCOs? Are they ignorant? They laid out a pretty different scenario, general, ambassador, from what you're laying out today."

Gray, who grew up in Montana, is survived by his wife, Jessica, and infant daughter, Ava.

Mora, who is survived by his wife, Christa, and 5-year-old daughter, Jordan, was expected to come home to Texas City, Texas, in November, his brother, Roger Mora, said.

Roger Mora, a former airman in the naval service, last talked to his brother about three months ago. "He was under a lot of stress, tired and trying to process his thoughts," Mora told ABCNEWS.com. "He was dealing with the wear and tear of our servicemen and women."