Spc. Mokri of Pflugerville, Texas graduated from Pflugerville High in 1998 and from Texas State University with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice in 2005. He joined the Army in June 2005 and was deployed to Iraq in the summer of 2006. He yearned for a life in public service and joining the Military was a stepping stone for him to achieve those goals. Yari told his mother that experiencing life in Iraq gave him a greater appreciation for home and family. One of Yari's life passions was the sport of soccer. He began playing as a small child, and never put the ball down. After high school, he joined the Austin Indoor Soccer League, where he played for several years. As an American Soldier in Iraq, Yari enjoyed playing soccer with Iraqi Soldiers. He told his family that his teammates in Iraq played barefoot, and that one day he planned to give his own shoes to one of them. In addition to his love for soccer, Yari had an appreciation for music of all kinds. He played the trumpet in the junior high band, and quickly developed an interest in a wide range of instruments, including guitar, drums, and keyboard. He filled up two bedrooms in his parent's home with his collection of musical instruments, and could frequently be heard strumming an electric guitar or drumming his trap set. He was blessed with a keen sense of humor, along with a beautiful smile and an ability to bring joy into people's lives. He loved to laugh and make others laugh with his impersonations and jokes. He was simply contagious. He had a positive attitude that rubbed off on others, even in the most trying of times. Yari yearned for a life in public service. He was 26.

Army
3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion,
3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team,
25th Infantry Division