Brian A. Moss

For much of the past three years, Brian A. Moss helped train the U.S. Navy honor guard. A month ago, he was posted at the Pentagon.

Tuesday morning, the 34-year-old Washington D.C. resident and his wife gave each other a kiss as usual, then went to work. His hometown of Sperry, Okla., decorated a flag-draped pickup truck in his honor at its homecoming parade during the weekend.

For the past 10 years, Moss made the U.S. Navy his life. The electronics technician 2nd class (submarine) was the Naval District Washington Sailor of the Year.

“He was Mr. Navy,” said his best friend and naval colleague, James Jeffery.