Harold Gregory Moore Jr.(February 13, 1922 – February 10, 2017) was aUnited States Armylieutenant generaland author. He was awarded theDistinguished Service Cross,the U.S. Army's second-highest decoration for valor, and was the first soldier in hisWest Pointgraduating class of 1945 to be promoted tobrigadier general,major general,and lieutenant general.
Hal Moore | |
|---|---|
 Moore in 1975 | |
| Birth name | Harold Gregory Moore Jr. |
| Nickname(s) | "Hal", "Yellow Hair" |
| Born | February 13, 1922 Bardstown, Kentucky,U.S. |
| Died | February 10, 2017(aged 94) Auburn, Alabama,U.S. |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1945–1977 |
| Rank | Lieutenant general |
| Commands | Army Military Personnel Center Fort OrdArmy Training Center 7th Infantry Division 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division 1st Battalion,7th Cavalry Regiment 2nd Battalion,23rd Infantry Regiment |
| Battles / wars | World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross Army Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit(3) Bronze Star Medal(4) w/"V" Device Purple Heart Air Medal(9) |
| Spouse(s) | [1] |
| Relations | 5 children, 12 grandchildren |
| Other work | We Were Soldiers Once… And Young We Are Soldiers Still: A Journey Back to the Battlefields of Vietnam[2] Executive Vice-President of theCrested ButteSki Area,Colorado |
Moore is remembered as thelieutenant colonelin command of the 1st Battalion,7th Cavalry Regiment,at theBattle of Ia Drangin 1965, during theVietnam War.The battle was detailed in the 1992 bestsellerWe Were Soldiers Once… and Young,co-authored by Moore and made into the filmWe Were Soldiersin 2002, which starredMel Gibsonas Moore. Moore was the "honorary colonel" of the regiment.
Moore was awarded theOrder of Saint Mauriceby theNational Infantry Association[3]as well as the Distinguished Graduate Award by the West Point Association of Graduates.[4]
Early life and education
editMoore was born on February 13, 1922, inBardstown, Kentucky,the eldest of four children born to Harold Sr. and Mary (Crume) Moore. His father was an insurance agent whose territory covered western Kentucky. His mother was a homemaker.[5]Because he was interested in obtaining an appointment to theU.S. Military AcademyatWest Point, New York,and felt his chances were better if he lived in a larger city, he left Kentucky at the age of seventeen before finishing high school and got a job in Washington, D.C., working in theU.S. Senatebook warehouse[citation needed].[6]
Moore finished high school at night while working days and graduated fromSt. Joseph Preparatory Schoolin Bardstown with the class of 1940.[7]Moore attendedGeorge Washington Universityat night for two years, working at his warehouse job while waiting on an appointment to West Point.[4]During his time atGeorge Washington Universityhe was initiated into theKappa Sigmafraternity.
After PresidentFranklin D. Rooseveltsigned legislation authorizing each senator and representative to make additional appointments to the military and naval academies, Moore was offered an appointment to theUnited States Naval Academyby RepresentativeEd Crealof the 4th Congressional District of Kentucky. Moore had no desire to go to the Naval Academy. Moore instead asked Creal whether he would be willing to trade his Naval Academy appointment to another congressman for an open Military Academy appointment for Moore, if Moore could find a willing partner for the exchange. Creal agreed, and Moore soon found RepresentativeEugene Coxof Georgia's 2nd Congressional District, who had an open appointment to West Point. Cox was impressed with Moore's tenacity and he left Cox's office with the West Point appointment.[7][8]
Military service
editWest Point
editMoore received his appointment to the U.S. Military Academy shortly after the United States entered into World War II. He reported to West Point for "Reception Day" on July 15, 1942, and the summer training referred to as "Beast Barracks" held before the formal academic school term took up in the fall.[9][10]During hisplebesummer at Pine Camp, he qualified as an expert on theM-1 Garand rifleand was the top scorer in his company.[9]Although Moore did well in most of his classes, he was academically deficient in the required math subjects and he had to redouble his efforts to absorb the engineering, physics and chemistry, often studying two or three hours past lights out to memorize the material.[9][11]
In the fall of 1942, his class received the news that because of the war, his class would graduate in three years rather than the usual four years. Moore made it through the plebe year, but just barely, as he put it, it was "an academic trip from hell." This observation caused Moore to lead a student's life at West Point devoted to studying, with few extracurricular activities.[9]After a ten-dayfurlough,he reported toCamp Popolopenfor summer military training, where his company trained with vehicles and fired many types of weapons.[Note 1]The summer ended with maneuvers held again at Pine Camp.[9]
In his second year at the academy, he studied more complicated subjects like calculus, electrical engineering, thermodynamics and historic military campaigns. Wednesdays were spent watching the latestStaff Combat Film Report,which reported the most recent fighting from the Pacific and European war fronts. Summer military training after his second year consisted of touring U.S. Army basic training centers to study tactics and techniques.[4][9]
His final academic year was spent studying military history and tactics as the war was winding down in Europe. Just before graduation, each cadet selected his branch of assignment, dependent upon their academic standing in the class and the quota of openings in each branch. Moore was in the bottom fifteen percent and he wanted an infantry assignment. When his name was finally called to declare, there were still infantry openings available. Moore graduated from West Point on June 5, 1945, and he was commissioned as asecond lieutenantin the infantry branch.[4][9]
Post-World War II
editMoore's first assignment after graduation was the Infantry Officer Basic Course atFort Benning,Georgia, which was a six-week course. During the basic course he applied for the airborne jump school at Fort Benning. He was not selected, and was instead assigned to the three-week jump school held at the11th Airborne DivisioninTokyo, Japan.[12]His first assignment out of jump school was with the187th Glider Infantry Regimentat Camp Crawford nearSapporo, Japanfrom 1945 until 1948.[12]
After seven months as company commander, he was assigned as Camp Crawford's construction officer and responsible for all of the construction improvements being made at the camp.[13]In June 1948, he was reassigned to the82nd Airborne Division,atFort Bragg.He volunteered to join the Airborne Test Section, a special unit testing experimental parachutes. In November 1948, he made the first of some 150 jumps with the section over the next two years.[4][14]Over the course of his career, he became a jumpmaster, with over 300 jumps.[15][16]
Korean War
editIn 1951, amidst theKorean War(1950–1953), he was ordered to Fort Benning to attend the Infantry Officer's Advanced Course, which would prepare him to command acompanyor to serve on abattalionstaff.[17]In June 1952, Moore was assigned to the17th Infantry Regimentof the7th Infantry Division.As acaptain,he commanded a heavy mortar company in combat. He next served as regimental Assistant Chief-of-Staff, Operations and Plans. Moore's promotion to major was put on hold by a policy of the 7th Division commanding general, that stated that no promotion to major would be possible without command of an infantry company in combat. The division commander personally assigned Moore to an infantry company so that Moore could be promoted to major, and thus later become divisional assistant chief-of staff for operations.[18]
Return to the US
editIn 1954, Moore returned to West Point and served for three years as an instructor in infantry tactics. While serving as an instructor, Moore taught then-CadetNorman Schwarzkopf,who called Moore one of his "heroes," and cites Moore as the reason he chose the infantry branch upon graduation.[4][19](Schwarzkopf later became ageneralin the U.S. Army and led theU.N. coalitionforces in thePersian Gulf WaragainstIraq.[19]) During this assignment, Moore took a personal interest in the battles between theFrench Armyforces and theViệt MinhatĐiện Biên Phủin Vietnam.[20]
In 1956, Moore was assigned to attend the year-long student course at theCommand and General Staff CollegeatFort Leavenworth, Kansas.The course prepared majors for the duties of staff officers at the division and corps level.[21]After study at Fort Leavenworth, Moore reported to the Pentagon and the Office, Chief of Research and Development where his initiative and insights were key to the development of newairborneequipment and airborne/air assault tactics. In 1960, following graduation from theArmed Forces Staff CollegeatNorfolk, Virginia,Moore served a three-year tour asNATOPlans Officer with Headquarters,Allied Forces Northern EuropeinOslo, Norway.[22]
In 1964, now alieutenant colonel,Moore completed the course of study at theNaval War College,[23]while earning a master's degree in International Relations fromGeorge Washington UniversityinWashington, DC.Moore was transferred toFort Benningand commanded 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry later to become a part of11th Air Assault Division,undergoing air assault and air mobility training and tests.[24]On July 28, 1965, PresidentLyndon Johnsonannounced that he was sending "the Airmobile Division to Vietnam".[25]
In July the 11th Air Assault Division was re-designated the1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)and alerted for deployment to Vietnam.[25]Moore's battalion was re-designated as 1st Battalion,7th Cavalry Regiment,1st Cavalry Division, the same regiment that was under the command of Lieutenant ColonelGeorge Custerwhen the Irish songGarry Owenwas adopted as a marching tune.[25]The "Garry Owen" Brigade left Fort Benning August 14, 1965, and went toSouth Vietnamby way of thePanama CanalaboardUSNSGeneral Maurice Rose,arriving at the Division'sAn Khê Base Campa month later.[26]
Vietnam War
editBattle of la Drang
edit
Beginning on November 14, 1965, Lt. Col. Moore led the 1st Battalion,7th Cavalryof the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in the week-longBattle of Ia Drang.Encircled by enemy soldiers with no clearlanding zonethat would allow them to leave, Moore managed to persevere despite being significantly outnumbered by North Vietnamese Army (NVA) forces that engaged the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, only two-and-a-half miles away the next day. Moore's dictum that "there is always one more thing you can do to increase your odds of success" and the courage of his entire command are credited by Moore with this outcome.[11]
Moore was wounded and earned a Purple Heart. Because the wound wasn't serious, he did not believe he was entitled to the medal, and unsuccessfully tried to return it. He never wore the ribbon or the medal on his uniform.[27]The blond haired Moore was known as "Yellow Hair" to his troops at the battle at Ia Drang, also a tongue-in-cheek homage referencing the legendary GeneralGeorge Armstrong Custer,who commanded as a lieutenant colonel the same 7th Cavalry Regiment at theBattle of the Little Bighornjust under a century before.[28]Moore was awarded theDistinguished Service Crossfor extraordinary heroism at Ia Drang.[4]After the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley, Moore was promoted to colonel and took over the command of the Garry Owen (3rd) Brigade.[29]
Post-Vietnam War service
editAfter his service in theVietnam War,Moore served at thePentagonas the military liaison to the Assistant Secretary for International Affairs in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense.[30]In his next assignment the Army sent him to Harvard University, where he completed hisM.A.inInternational Relationsin 1968.[31]Having completed his work at Harvard, Moore reported back to the Pentagon to work with the Deputy Chief-of-Staff for Operations. He then helped draft the Army plan for the withdrawal of two brigades of the9th Infantry Divisionto the United States as a part of theVietnamizationof the war effort.[31]
In August 1968, Moore was promoted to the rank of brigadier general.[32]In July 1969, he was assigned as assistant chief of staff, operations and plans, of theEighth ArmyinSouth Korea,where tensions were high fromdemilitarized zone incursionsand drug use and racism among Eighth Army troops were at an all-time high.[33]Shortly after becoming commanding general of the7th Infantry Division,Moore was promoted to major general in 1970 and he and his family moved toCamp Casey, South Korea.He was charged by GeneralJohn H. Michaelis,commander,United States Forces Korea,with cleaning up the drug abuse problem and racial strife that were prevalent at the time in the 7th Division.[34]
His plan established Officer's Leadership Schools for company-grade officers and an NCO Leadership School for staff sergeants and below as well as issuing an "Equal Opportunity Policy". He backed up the policy with the promise to punish those leaders who discriminated based on race, ethnicity or creed. As a part of the reformation of division morale, he established several different athletic programs, including football, basketball, and bo xing.[34]In 1971–1973, as commanding general of the Army Training Center atFort Ord,California,he oversaw extensive experimentation in adapting basic and advanced individual training underProject VOLAR,in preparation for the end of conscription and the institution of the Modern Volunteer Army.[35][36]
In August 1973, Moore was assigned as commanding general, US Army Military Personnel Center (MILPERCEN). In 1974, he was appointed deputy chief of staff for personnel,Department of the Army,his last assignment before leaving the army. He dealt with army recruiting issues after the termination of the draft, as well as the orderly reduction of forces after the close of the Vietnam War.[37]Moore's next assignment would have been to become the commanding general,U.S. Army Japan,but he decided to retire instead. Moore retired from the army on August 1, 1977, after completing 32 years of active service.[38]
Personal life
edit
While assigned to Fort Bragg, Moore metJulia B. Compton,the daughter of Colonel and Mrs. Louis J. Compton. Julia was a student enrolled at theUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,North Carolina and was visiting her parents at Fort Bragg.[12][39]They were married at the Fort Bragg main post chapel on November 22, 1949.[39][40]The Moores had five children, Greg Moore, Steve Moore, Julie Moore Orlowski, Cecile Moore Rainey, and David Moore,[41]as well as twelve grandchildren.[15]Two of their sons are career U.S. Army officers: one a retired colonel and another a retired lieutenant colonel.[42]
After his retirement in 1977, Moore served as the Executive President of theCrested Butte Ski Area,Colorado.In June 2009, the 87-year-old Moore attended the opening of theNational Infantry MuseuminColumbus, Georgia.One of the featured exhibits of the museum is a life-sizedioramaof L.Z. X-Ray from the Battle of Ia Drang.[43][44]
Moore died from astrokeon February 10, 2017, three days before his 95th birthday.[45]He was buried inFort Moore Main Post Cemeteryon February 17, 2017, with full military honors and laid to rest beside his wife of 55 years who died in 2004.[46][47]
Bibliography
edit- In 1975, theUnited States Army Center of Military HistorypublishedBuilding a Volunteer Army: The Fort Ord Contribution,by Moore and Lieutenant Colonel Jeff M. Tuten. The 139-page paperback is a monograph concerning the Project VOLAR experiments during Moore's tenure in command of Fort Ord in 1971–1973 in preparation for the end of the draft and the implementation of the Modern Volunteer Army.[35]
- In 1992, Moore wroteWe Were Soldiers Once… And Youngwith co-authorJoseph L. Galloway.The book was adapted into the 2002 filmWe Were Soldiers,which was filmed at FortsBenningandHunter Liggett,depicting Moore's command of 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, at Fort Benning and in theBattle of Ia Drang.[48]
- Moore and Joseph L. Galloway wrote another book together, a follow-up to their first collaboration.We Are Soldiers Still;A Journey Back to the Battlefields of Vietnamwas published in 2008. Moore and Galloway reunited to give an interview on the book at thePritzker Military Museum & Libraryin September 2008.[49]
Awards and decorations
editPurple Heart
editWhile included in the list of awards, Moore never wore the Purple Heart and tried to return the award to the Army while in Vietnam and more formally in 1968. In his January 11, 1968, letter to the Army Adjutant General, he provided this rationale, "I have great respect for the Purple Heart Medal and would be proud to wear it if I consider it were fully earned by me in the future. In the case of this particular award, it was presented on the basis of a superficial" punji-stake "injury in Vietnam in October 1965. I do not feel that I earned the award for that slight injury and hence have never worn it, do not intend to, and request my records be set straight."[50]
On January 16, 1968, the Adjutant General provided a formal response declining the request. The letter summarized, "General Orders pertaining to this award cannot be revoked. This award is part of your official records. It will be available to you in the future if you desire it."[51]
List of awards and decorations
edit
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| Badge | Combat Infantryman Badgew/ Star | ||
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| Badge | Basic Army Aviator Badge | ||
| 1st row | Army Distinguished Service Cross[4] | Army Distinguished Service Medal | |
| 2nd row | Legion of Meritwith two bronzeoak leaf clusters | Bronze Star Medalwith"V" Deviceand three bronze Oak Leaf Clusters (three awards for Valor)[4] | Purple Heart |
| 3rd row | Air Medalw/ eight Oak Leaf Clusters | Joint Service Commendation Medal | Army Commendation Medalw/ two Oak Leaf Clusters |
| 4th row | American Campaign Medal | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal | World War II Victory Medal |
| 5th row | Army of Occupation Medal | National Defense Service Medalw/ one bronze3⁄16"service stars | Korean Service Medalw/ three bronze3⁄16"service stars |
| 6th row | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | Vietnam Service Medalw/ three3⁄16"bronze stars | Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Crossw/ three Palms |
| 7th row | United Nations Korea Medal | Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medalw/ 1960– device | Republic of Korea War Service Medal |
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| Badge | 7th Cavalry RegimentDistinctive Unit Insignia | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Badge | Republic of VietnamParachutist Badge | ||
| 1st row | US Army Presidential Unit Citation | ||
| 2nd row | Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation | Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation(two awards) | |
| Badge | 1st Cavalry DivisionCombat Service Identification Badge | ||
 
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| Badges | Master Parachutist Badge | Original Air Assault Badge (Unofficial) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Badges | Army Staff Identification Badge | Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge | ||||||||||
Other recognition
edit- Order of Saint Mauriceby theNational Infantry Association[3]
- Distinguished Graduate Award from the West Point Association of Graduates[4]
- The Naming Commissionrecommended that Fort Benning be renamedFort Moore,after Moore and his wife Julia Moore.[52]This recommendation was accepted and the name change was effective May 11, 2023.
Notes
edit- ^The name of Camp Popolopen was changed to Camp Buckner after World War II to honor GeneralSimon Bolivar Buckner Jr.,who was killed in action during the closing days of theBattle of Okinawa.
Citations
edit- ^"Julia Moore Obituary".Columbus Ledger-Enquirer (by Legacy ).April 21, 2004.
- ^Moore, Harold; Galloway, Joseph (August 19, 2008).We Are Soldiers Still: A Journey Back to the Battlefields of Vietnam(1 ed.). Harper.ISBN978-0-06-114776-0.
- ^ab"OSM0203"(PDF).Infantry Association.2005. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on February 19, 2005.RetrievedFebruary 19,2005.
- ^abcdefghij"Harold G. Moore, Jr.", 2003 Distinguished Graduate Award, West Point Association of Graduates
- ^Guardia 2013,pp. 13–14
- ^Moore's WWII draft card lists his employer as the United States Senate with the place of employment being the Senate Office Building.
- ^abGuardia 2013,pp. 15–19
- ^Moore & Galloway (2008),p.160
- ^abcdefgGuardia 2013,pp. 20–29
- ^Moore & Galloway (2008),p.73
- ^abMoore & Galloway (2008),p.162
- ^abcGuardia 2013,pp. 30–36
- ^Guardia 2013,p. 40
- ^Guardia 2013,pp. 45–46
- ^ab"Harold G." Hal "Moore".The Air University.2007. Archived fromthe original(Eagle Biography)on May 30, 2013.RetrievedJune 4,2008.
- ^Barnwell, Ross (February 10, 2019)."Footage:" We Were Soldiers "Hal Moore Talks About The Battle For Ia Drang".War History Online.RetrievedSeptember 3,2019.
Moore was to become a "jumpmaster" with over 300 Airborne jumps
- ^Guardia, pp. 58–59
- ^Guardia, pp. 77–78
- ^abGuardia, p. 85
- ^Guardia, pp. 86–87
- ^Guardia, p. 87
- ^Guardia, p. 92
- ^"Graduation Exercises"(PDF).The United States Naval War College.June 17, 1964. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on March 31, 2013.RetrievedJanuary 20,2014.
- ^"A Soldier Once...and Always".Hal Moore: A Soldier Once. and Always.Facebook.RetrievedFebruary 6,2014.
Lt. Col. Hal Moore in his first command portrait as the CO of 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry (later re-designated: 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry).
- ^abcGuardia, p. 103
- ^Guardia, pp. 105–106
- ^Modinger, John H. (June 10, 2022)."Hal Moore A Life in Pictures".Army University Press.RetrievedNovember 7,2023.
- ^"Moore, Harold (" Yellow Hair "), LTG".TogetherWeServed.TogetherWeServed, Inc. 2011. Archived fromthe originalon October 17, 2013.RetrievedFebruary 6,2014.
- ^Guardia, p. 141
- ^Guardia, p. 159
- ^abGuardia, pp. 160–161
- ^Guardia, p. 162
- ^Guardia, pp. 162–163
- ^abGuardia, pp. 163–169
- ^abMoore and Tuten, pp. 52–59
- ^Guardia, pp. 170–175
- ^Guardia, pp. 180–181
- ^Guardia, p. 181
- ^abMoore & Galloway (2008),p.217
- ^Guardia, p. 54
- ^"Julia Compton Moore Obituary".Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.April 21, 2004.RetrievedApril 29,2007.
- ^Moore and Galloway (2008), pp. 220–221
- ^Williams, Chuck (June 19, 2009)."Infantry Museum's '100 Yards' Exhibit Touches Veterans".Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.Archived fromthe originalon June 21, 2009.
- ^Galloway, Joseph L. (October 29, 1990)."Vietnam story: The word was the Ia Drang would be a walk. The word was wrong".U.S. News & World Report.Archived fromthe originalon September 11, 2002.RetrievedSeptember 11,2002.
- ^Turner, Troy (February 11, 2017)."We Were Soldiers' hero passes; the celebrated life story of a soldier, a leader, a father".Opelika-Auburn News.Archivedfrom the original on August 29, 2019.RetrievedFebruary 12,2017.
- ^"Graveside Service Ft Benning, GA Lt. Gen. Hal Moore"(Video).YouTube.February 17, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on December 11, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 28,2018.
- ^Williams, Chuck (February 17, 2017)."Retired Lt. Gen. Hal Moore remembered as great warrior, leader".Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.Columbus. GA.
He was buried with his wife of 55 years, Julia Compton Moore, who died in 2004
- ^Moore & Galloway (2008),pp.221-222
- ^"Moore and Galloway Webcast Interview".Pritzker Military Museum & Library.September 17, 2008.
- ^Letter dtd January 11, 1968 from Harold G. Moore to AGPB-AC, HQ, DA, TAGO
- ^Letter dtd January 16, 1968 from AGPB-AC, HQ, DA, TAGO in official records of Harold G. Moore Jr
- ^The Naming Commission(Aug 2022)RecommendationArchivedOctober 9, 2022, at theWayback Machine
References
edit- "Gathering of Eagles biography".Gathering of Eagles.Archived fromthe originalon February 12, 2017.RetrievedFebruary 10,2017.
- "Graduation Exercises"(PDF).The United States Naval War College.June 17, 1964. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on March 31, 2013.RetrievedFebruary 3,2014.
- "Harold G. Moore, Jr".2003 Distinguished Graduate Award.West Point Association of Graduates. May 24, 2003.RetrievedJanuary 14,2014.
- Guardia, Mike (November 5, 2013).Hal Moore: A Soldier Once…And Always.Havertown, Pennsylvania: Casemate Publishers.ISBN978-1-61200-207-1.
- Moore, Harold G.; Joseph L. Galloway (1992).We Were Soldiers Once...and Young: Ia Drang: the battle that changed the war in Vietnam.New York, New York: Random House.ISBN978-0-679-41158-1.
- Moore, Harold G.; Joseph L. Galloway (2008).We Are Soldiers Still: A Journey Back to the Battlefields of Vietnam.New York, New York: Harper.ISBN978-0-06-114776-0.
- Moore, Harold G.; Jeff M. Tuten."Building a Volunteer Army: The Fort Ord Contribution"(PDF).Publications Catalog.U.S. Army Center of Military History. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on January 16, 2014.RetrievedJanuary 15,2014.