“The mission of the U.S. Intelligence rests on a pillar of pure optimism: that seemingly ordinary men and women can do truly 

extraordinary things.”

 DCI George Tenet

From the beginning of the Republic the foundation of the United States Army has rested on the courage and ability of 

dedicated warriors to carry the fight to America’s enemies. But behind every warrior are other highly trained professionals 

whose skills are also critical to ensuring success. Among them are army cryptologists who use their talents and abilities to 

provide and protect critical information on the battlefield. In order to succeed in this field one must be innovative, intelligent, 

creative, and most importantly imbued with an indomitable team spirit. As a member of the United States Army, SGT Trista 

Leah Moretti was all of these things and more. 

Trista was born appropriately on Flag Day, June 14, 1980, and raised in South Plainfield, New Jersey. During her youth she 

excelled both in the classroom and on the athletic field, earning nine varsity letters in field hockey and spring and winter track. 

In 1997 she and her teammates brought home the Middlesex County field hockey championship to South Plainfield High.

Trista loved children and seriously considered a career as a teacher. For a brief time she took courses in child development 

and worked at a local day care center, but like many bright young women of her time, Trista had a strong desire to have not 

only a successful life, but a meaningful one as well. She was determined to be a part of something bigger than herself. With 

this in mind she began to think about a career in the United States armed forces. In 2003, after talking the idea over with her 

father and a close friend, both of whom were familiar with military life, she made the decision to enlist in the United States 

Army. After basic training, AIT and airborne school, she was assigned to the Medina Regional Security Operations Center 

Command in Texas where she worked hard to hone her cryptologic skills.

All soldiers, no matter what their military specialty, are trained in infantry tactics. 

In her time in the service of her country Trista not only made good use of her soldier 

skills, but also became an accomplished cryptologist. In December 2005, she was 

assigned to the 425th Brigade Special Troop Battalion of the 25th Infantry where she 

became adept at gathering and protecting the critical information so vital to winning 

battles and saving lives.

The roots of the 25th Infantry can be traced to WWII in the Hawaiian Islands. 

The motto of this division is Tropic Lightning: Ready to Strike! Anywhere, Anytime. 

The unit was stationed at Schofield Barracks on Oahu on the morning of December 

7th 1941 and was one of the very first units in the United States Army to carry the 

fight to Japan. Decades later, the attacks on our nation on September 11, 2001 led 

the unit to once again answer the call to the colors. In 2006, Trista would become a 

part of the 25th’s efforts to protect America in this day and time when her unit was 

deployed to Forward Operating Base Kalso near the Sunni Triangle in Iraq.
Friends and family described Trista as “fearless, brave and resourceful.” During 

her time in Iraq she used all of these attributes to help the unit to succeed in its 

efforts to defeat the insurgency. One of the most critical tasks of the 425th was to 

search for and locate IEDs — roadside bombs. Trista’s work was critical to this effort. 

Her work and the work of the unit were not in vain; countless IEDs were discovered 

before detonation.

 

On June 25, 2007, after a hard night of 

work Trista returned to her quarters for 

some much needed rest. At midday the 

base came under an intensive mortar attack. A shell struck the area killing her and 

injuring dozens. For her service and sacrifice she was posthumously awarded the 

Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Combat Action Badge.

In her short but eventful life, Trista Leah Moretti was many things: a devoted 

daughter and sister, a true friend, a superb athlete, an airborne soldier and a patriot 

who dedicated her life to serving her country during a challenging and demanding 

time. Her sister described her as a person who lived her life with an unsurpassed “fire and tenacity.” Others who knew her often 

said that “she was bigger than life.” In the end she will be remembered not only for the lives she touched and the exemplary life 

she led, but also for the work she did to save the lives of others, both military and civilian.

Sergeant Trista Leah Moretti

United States Army

14 June 1980 - 25 June 2007

Photos courtesy of the Moretti family

Narrative - Patrick Weadon, Curator, National Cryptologic Museum

Graphics/Layout - Terri Askew, NSA Creative Imaging

Photography - NSA Creative Imaging

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MEMORIAL DAY 2008

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