Editing Hal Moore

{{Short description|US Army general}}
{{for|the American Olympic wrestler|Hal Moore (wrestler)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox military person
| name          = Hal Moore
| image         = Lt General Hal Moore official photo as Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel.jpg{{!}}border
| image_size    = 
| alt           = 
| caption       = Moore in 1975
| nickname      = "Hal", "Yellow Hair"
| birth_name    = Harold Gregory Moore Jr.
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|1922|2|13}}
| birth_place   = [[Bardstown, Kentucky]], U.S.
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|2017|2|10|1922|2|13}}
| death_place   = [[Auburn, Alabama]], U.S.
| placeofburial = [[Fort Benning Main Post Cemetery]]
| allegiance    = United States
| branch        = [[United States Army]]
| serviceyears  = 1945–1977
| rank          = [[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant general]]
| servicenumber = 
| unit          = 
| commands      = Army Military Personnel Center<br/>[[Fort Ord]] Army Training Center<br/>[[7th Infantry Division (United States)|7th Infantry Division]]<br/>3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division<br/>1st Battalion, [[7th Cavalry Regiment]]<br/>2nd Battalion, [[23rd Infantry Regiment (United States)|23rd Infantry Regiment]]
| battles       = {{tree list}}
*[[Korean War]]
*[[Vietnam War]]
**[[Battle of Ia Drang]]
{{tree list/end}}
| awards        = [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]]<br/>[[Army Distinguished Service Medal]]<br/>[[Legion of Merit]] (3)<br/>[[Bronze Star Medal]] (4) w/ [["V" Device]]<br/>[[Purple Heart]]<br/>[[Air Medal]] (9)
| spouse        = {{marriage|[[Julia Compton Moore]]|1949|2004|reason=died}}<ref name="LC Obit">{{cite web|title=Julia Moore Obituary|url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/ledger-enquirer/name/julia-moore-obituary?id=29850286|website=Columbus Ledger-Enquirer (by Legacy.com)|date=April 21, 2004}}</ref>
| relations     = 5 children, 12 grandchildren
| laterwork     = ''[[We Were Soldiers Once… And Young]]''<br/>''We Are Soldiers Still: A Journey Back to the Battlefields of Vietnam''<ref>{{cite book|last1=Moore|first1=Harold|last2=Galloway|first2=Joseph|title=We Are Soldiers Still: A Journey Back to the Battlefields of Vietnam|date=2008-08-19|publisher=Harper|isbn=978-0-06-114776-0|edition=1}}</ref><br/>Executive Vice-President of the [[Crested Butte]] Ski Area, [[Colorado]]
}}
'''Harold Gregory Moore Jr.''' (February 13, 1922 – February 10, 2017) was a [[United States Army]] [[Lieutenant general (United States)|lieutenant general]] and author. As a [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|lieutenant colonel]], he commanded the 1st Battalion, [[7th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|7th Cavalry Regiment]], at the [[Battle of Ia Drang]] in 1965, during the [[Vietnam War]]. The battle was detailed in the 1992 bestseller ''[[We Were Soldiers Once… and Young]]'', co-authored by Moore and made into the film ''[[We Were Soldiers]]'' in 2002, which starred [[Mel Gibson]] as Moore. Moore was the "honorary colonel" of the regiment. He was awarded the [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]], the U.S. Army's second-highest decoration for valor, and was the first soldier in his [[United States Military Academy|West Point]] graduating class of 1945 to be promoted to [[Brigadier general (United States)|brigadier general]], [[Major general (United States)|major general]], and lieutenant general.

Moore was awarded the [[Order of Saint Maurice (United States)|Order of Saint Maurice]] by the [[National Infantry Association]]<ref name=infantryassn>{{cite web|url=http://www.infantryassn.com/WebImages/PDF/OSM0203-nolastname.pdf |website=Infantry Association |year=2005 |title=OSM0203 |access-date=February 19, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050219234449/http://www.infantryassn.com/WebImages/PDF/OSM0203-nolastname.pdf |archive-date=February 19, 2005}}</ref> as well as the Distinguished Graduate Award by the West Point Association of Graduates.<ref name="WPAoG" />

==Early life and education==
Moore was born on February 13, 1922, in [[Bardstown, 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.<ref name="Guardia pg13">{{harvnb|Guardia|2013|pp=13–14}}</ref> Because he was interested in obtaining an appointment to the [[United States Military Academy|U.S. Military Academy]] at [[West 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 the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] book warehouse{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}.<ref>Moore's WWII draft card lists his employer as the United States Senate with the place of employment being the Senate Office Building.</ref> 

Moore finished high school at night while working days and graduated from [[Bethlehem High School (Bardstown, Kentucky)#History|St. Joseph Preparatory School]] in Bardstown with the class of 1940.<ref name="Guardia pg15">{{harvnb|Guardia|2013|pp=15–19}}</ref> Moore attended [[George Washington University]] at night for two years, working at his warehouse job while waiting on an appointment to West Point.<ref name=WPAoG>"Harold G. Moore, Jr.", 2003 Distinguished Graduate Award, West Point Association of Graduates</ref> During his time at [[George Washington University]] he was initiated into the [[Kappa Sigma]] fraternity.

After President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] signed legislation authorizing each senator and representative to make additional appointments to the military and naval academies, Moore was offered an appointment to the [[United States Naval Academy]] by Representative [[Edward W. Creal|Ed Creal]] of 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 Representative [[Edward E. Cox|Eugene Cox]] of 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.<ref name="Guardia pg15"/><ref name="Moore2008p160">{{Harvp|Moore|Galloway|2008|p=[https://archive.org/details/wearesoldierssti0000moor/page/160/mode/2up 160]}}</ref>

==Military service==

===West Point===
Moore 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.<ref name="Guardia pg20">{{harvnb|Guardia|2013|pp=20–29}}</ref><ref name="Moore2008p73">{{Harvp|Moore|Galloway|2008|p=[https://archive.org/details/wearesoldierssti0000moor/page/73/mode/2up 73]}}</ref> During his [[Plebs#Cadets in America|plebe]] summer at Pine Camp, he qualified as an expert on the [[M1 Garand|M-1 Garand rifle]] and was the top scorer in his company.<ref name="Guardia pg20"/> 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.<ref name="Guardia pg20"/><ref name="Moore2008p162">{{Harvp|Moore|Galloway|2008|p=[https://archive.org/details/wearesoldierssti0000moor/page/162/mode/2up 162]}}</ref> 

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.<ref name="Guardia pg20"/> After a ten-day [[Leave (military)|furlough]], he reported to [[Camp Popolopen#Lake Popolopen|Camp Popolopen]] for summer military training, where his company trained with vehicles and fired many types of weapons.{{#tag:ref|The name of Camp Popolopen was changed to Camp Buckner after World War II to honor General [[Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr.]], who was killed in action during the closing days of the [[Battle of Okinawa]].|group=Note}} The summer ended with maneuvers held again at Pine Camp.<ref name="Guardia pg20"/> 

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 latest ''Staff 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.<ref name="WPAoG" /><ref name="Guardia pg20"/>

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 a [[Second lieutenant#United States|second lieutenant]] in the infantry branch.<ref name="WPAoG" /><ref name="Guardia pg20"/>

===Post-World War II===
Moore's first assignment after graduation was the Infantry Officer Basic Course at [[Fort Moore|Fort 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 the [[11th Airborne Division (United States)|11th Airborne Division]] in [[Tokyo|Tokyo, Japan]].<ref name="Guardia pg30">{{harvnb|Guardia|2013|pp=30–36}}</ref> His first assignment out of jump school was with the [[187th Infantry Regiment (United States)|187th Glider Infantry Regiment]] at Camp Crawford near [[Sapporo, Japan]] from 1945 until 1948.<ref name="Guardia pg30"/> 

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.<ref name="Guardia pg40">{{harvnb|Guardia|2013|p=40}}</ref> In June 1948, he was reassigned to the [[82nd Airborne Division (United States)|82nd Airborne Division]], at [[Fort Bragg (North Carolina)|Fort 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.<ref name="WPAoG" /><ref name="Guardia pg45">{{harvnb|Guardia|2013|pp=45–46}}</ref> Over the course of his career, he became a jumpmaster, with over 300 jumps.<ref name="Gathering of Eagles biography">{{cite web|url=http://www.au.af.mil/au/goe/eagle_bios/2007/moore_2007.asp|title=Harold G. "Hal" Moore  |format=Eagle Biography |website=The Air University |year=2007|url-status=dead|access-date=June 4, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530053602/http://www.au.af.mil/au/goe/eagle_bios/2007/moore_2007.asp|archive-date=May 30, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Jumpmaster">{{cite web |url=https://www.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/watch-we-were-soldiers.html | title=Footage: "We Were Soldiers" Hal Moore Talks About The Battle For Ia Drang | website= War History Online  |first1= Ross  | last1= Barnwell | date=10 Feb 2019 | access-date=3 September 2019 |quote=Moore was to become a “jumpmaster” with over 300 Airborne jumps }}</ref>

===Korean War===
In 1951, amidst the [[Korean War]] (1950–1953), he was ordered to Fort Benning to attend the Infantry Officer's Advanced Course, which would prepare him to command a [[Company (military unit)#United States|company]] or to serve on a [[Battalion#United States Armed Forces|battalion]] staff.<ref name=Guardia58-59>Guardia, pp. 58–59</ref> In June 1952, Moore was assigned to the [[17th Infantry Regiment (United States)|17th Infantry Regiment]] of the [[7th Infantry Division (United States)|7th Infantry Division]]. As a [[Captain (land)|captain]], 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.<ref name=Guardia77-78>Guardia, pp. 77–78</ref>

===Return to the US===
In 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-[[Cadet]] [[Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.|Norman Schwarzkopf]], who called Moore one of his "heroes," and cites Moore as the reason he chose the infantry branch upon graduation.<ref name="WPAoG" /><ref name=Guardia85>Guardia, p. 85</ref> (Schwarzkopf later became a [[General (United States)|general]] in the U.S. Army and led the [[Coalition of the Gulf War|U.N. coalition]] forces in the [[Gulf War|Persian Gulf War]] against [[Ba'athist Iraq|Iraq]].<ref name="Guardia85" />) During this assignment, Moore took a personal interest in the battles between the [[French Army]] forces and the [[Viet Minh|Việt Minh]] at [[Điện Biên Phủ]] in Vietnam.<ref name=Guardia86-87>Guardia, pp. 86–87</ref>

In 1956, Moore was assigned to attend the year-long student course at the [[Command and General Staff College]] at [[Fort Leavenworth, Kansas]]. The course prepared majors for the duties of staff officers at the division and corps level.<ref name=Guardia87>Guardia, p. 87</ref> 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 new [[Airborne forces|airborne]] equipment and airborne/air assault tactics. In 1960, following graduation from the [[Armed Forces Staff College]] at [[Norfolk, Virginia]], Moore served a three-year tour as [[NATO]] Plans Officer with Headquarters, [[Allied Forces Northern Europe]] in [[Oslo, Norway]].<ref name=Guardia92>Guardia, p. 92</ref>

[[File:Harold G. Moore Jr. Battalion Command Official Photo.jpg|thumb|Moore in 1965]]
In 1964, now a [[lieutenant colonel]], Moore completed the course of study at the [[National War College]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Graduation Exercises|url=http://www.usnwc.edu/NWCSite/media/Graduation-Programs/17-June-1964-Graduation.pdf|website=The United States National War College|access-date=20 January 2014|date=17 June 1964|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130331235910/http://usnwc.edu/NWCSite/media/Graduation-Programs/17-June-1964-Graduation.pdf|archive-date=March 31, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref> while earning a master's degree in International Relations from [[George Washington University]] in [[Washington, DC]]. Moore was transferred to [[Fort Benning]] and commanded 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry later to become a part of [[11th Airborne Division (United States)|11th Air Assault Division]], undergoing air assault and air mobility training and tests.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1410061359235548&set=a.1406632539578430.1073741828.1406627382912279&type=1&theater|title=A Soldier Once...and Always|work=Hal Moore: A Soldier Once. and Always|publisher=Facebook|quote=Lt. Col. Hal Moore in his first command portrait as the CO of 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry (later re-designated: 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry).|access-date=February 6, 2014}}</ref> On July 28, 1965, President [[Lyndon Johnson]] announced that he was sending "the Airmobile Division to Vietnam".<ref name=Guardia103>Guardia, p. 103</ref> 

In July the 11th Air Assault Division was re-designated the [[1st Cavalry Division (United States)|1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)]] and alerted for deployment to Vietnam.<ref name="Guardia103" /> 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 Colonel [[George Custer]] when the Irish song ''[[Garryowen (air)|Garry Owen]]'' was adopted as a marching tune.<ref name="Guardia103" /> The "Garry Owen" Brigade left Fort Benning August 14, 1965, and went to [[Republic of Vietnam|South Vietnam]] by way of the [[Panama Canal]] aboard [[USS Admiral Hugh Rodman (AP-126)#Vietnam Crisis Operations|USNS ''General Maurice Rose'']], arriving at the Division's [[An Khê District|An Khê Base Camp]] a month later.<ref name=Guardia105-106>Guardia, pp. 105–106</ref>

===Vietnam War===

====Battle of la Drang====
[[File:Hal Moore, Ia Drang, Nov 1965.jpg|320px|thumb|LTC Hal Moore during the Battle of Ia Drang, November 1965.]]
{{main|Battle of Ia Drang}}
Beginning on November 14, 1965, Lt. Col. Moore led the 1st Battalion, [[7th Cavalry Regiment|7th Cavalry]] of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in the week-long [[Battle of Ia Drang]]. Encircled by enemy soldiers with no clear [[landing zone]] that 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.<ref name="Moore2008p162"/> 

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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Modinger |first1=John H. |title=Hal Moore A Life in Pictures |url=https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Military-Review/MR-Book-Reviews/June-2022/Book-Review-002/ |access-date=7 November 2023 |work=[[Army University#Army University Press|Army University Press]] |date=June 10, 2022}}</ref> 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 General [[George Armstrong Custer]], who commanded as a lieutenant colonel the same 7th Cavalry Regiment at the [[Battle of the Little Bighorn]] just under a century before.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://army.togetherweserved.com/army/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=220933|title=Moore, Harold ("Yellow Hair"), LTG|year=2011|work=TogetherWeServed|publisher=TogetherWeServed, Inc.|access-date=February 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017115938/http://army.togetherweserved.com/army/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=220933|archive-date=October 17, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Moore was awarded the [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] for extraordinary heroism at Ia Drang.<ref name="WPAoG" /> After the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley, Moore was promoted to colonel and took over the command of the Garry Owen (3rd) Brigade.<ref name=Guardia141>Guardia, p. 141</ref>

===Post-Vietnam War service===

After his service in the [[Vietnam War]], Moore served at the [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]] as the military liaison to the Assistant Secretary for International Affairs in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense.<ref name=Guardia159>Guardia, p. 159</ref> In his next assignment the Army sent him to Harvard University, where he completed his [[Master of Arts|M.A.]] in [[International Relations]] in 1968.<ref name=Guardia160-161>Guardia, pp. 160–161</ref> 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 the [[9th Infantry Division (United States)|9th Infantry Division]] to the United States as a part of the [[Vietnamization]] of the war effort.<ref name="Guardia160-161" /> 

In August 1968, Moore was promoted to the rank of brigadier general.<ref name=Guardia162>Guardia, p. 162</ref> In July 1969, he was assigned as assistant chief of staff, operations and plans, of the [[Eighth United States Army|Eighth Army]] in [[South Korea]], where tensions were high from [[Korean DMZ Conflict|demilitarized zone incursions]] and drug use and racism among Eighth Army troops were at an all-time high.<ref name=Guardia162-163>Guardia, pp. 162–163</ref> Shortly after becoming commanding general of the [[7th Infantry Division (United States)|7th Infantry Division]], Moore was promoted to major general in 1970 and he and his family moved to [[Camp Casey, South Korea]]. He was charged by General [[John 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.<ref name=Guardia163-169>Guardia, pp. 163–169</ref>

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 boxing.<ref name=Guardia163-169>Guardia, pp. 163–169</ref> In 1971–1973, as commanding general of the Army Training Center at [[Fort Ord]], [[California]], he oversaw extensive experimentation in adapting basic and advanced individual training under [[Project VOLAR]], in preparation for the end of conscription and the institution of the Modern Volunteer Army.<ref name=CMH90-3>Moore and Tuten, pp. 52–59</ref><ref name=Guardia170-175>Guardia, pp. 170–175</ref>  

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, [[United States Department of the Army|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.<ref name=Guardia180-181>Guardia, pp. 180–181</ref> 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.<ref name=Guardia181>Guardia, p. 181</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:LTG(R) Hal Moore at West Point 10 May 2010.JPG|thumb|200px|Moore at the [[United States Military Academy]], May 2010]]
While assigned to Fort Bragg, Moore met [[Julia Compton Moore|Julia B. Compton]], the daughter of Colonel and Mrs. Louis J. Compton. Julia was a student enrolled at the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]], North Carolina and was visiting her parents at Fort Bragg.<ref name="Guardia pg30"/><ref name="Moore/Galloway(2008)217">{{Harvp|Moore|Galloway|2008|p=[https://archive.org/details/wearesoldierssti0000moor/page/217/mode/2up 217]}}</ref> They were married at the Fort Bragg main post chapel on November 22, 1949.<ref name="Moore/Galloway(2008)217" /><ref name=Guardia54>Guardia, p. 54</ref> The Moores had five children, Greg Moore, Steve Moore, Julie Moore Orlowski, Cecile Moore Rainey, and David Moore,<ref name="ledgerenquirerobit">{{cite news|title=Julia Compton Moore Obituary|work=[[Columbus Ledger-Enquirer]] |date=April 21, 2004|url=http://www.legacy.com/Ledger-Enquirer/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=2155032|access-date=April 29, 2007}}</ref> as well as twelve grandchildren.<ref name="Gathering of Eagles biography"/> Two of their sons are career U.S. Army officers: one a retired colonel and another a retired lieutenant colonel.<ref name="Moore/Galloway(2008)220-221">Moore and Galloway (2008), pp. 220–221</ref>

After his retirement in 1977, Moore served as the Executive President of the [[Crested Butte Mountain Resort|Crested Butte Ski Area]], [[Colorado]]. In June 2009, the 87-year-old Moore attended the opening of the [[National Infantry Museum]] in [[Columbus, Georgia]]. One of the featured exhibits of the museum is a life-size [[diorama]] of L.Z. X-Ray from the Battle of Ia Drang.<ref name="Museum">{{cite news |author=Williams, Chuck | url=http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/story/753548.html |title=Infantry Museum's '100 Yards' Exhibit Touches Veterans | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621110707/http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/story/753548.html |archive-date=June 21, 2009 | work=[[Columbus Ledger-Enquirer]] | date=June 19, 2009}}</ref><ref name="gallowayvietnamstory">{{cite magazine|last=Galloway |first=Joseph L. |title=Vietnam story: The word was the Ia Drang would be a walk. The word was wrong |magazine=U.S. News & World Report |date=October 29, 1990 |url=https://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/soldiers/vietnam_901029.htm |access-date=September 11, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020911071916/http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/soldiers/vietnam_901029.htm |archive-date=September 11, 2002 }}</ref>

Moore died from a [[stroke]] on February 10, 2017, three days before his 95th birthday.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oanow.com/news/local/we-were-soldiers-hero-passes-the-celebrated-life-story-of/article_0717084e-f08a-11e6-9fcb-636a74eceacb.html |title=We Were Soldiers' hero passes; the celebrated life story of a soldier, a leader, a father |last=Turner |first=Troy |date=February 11, 2017 |website=[[Opelika-Auburn News]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829093411/https://www.oanow.com/news/local/we-were-soldiers-hero-passes-the-celebrated-life-story-of/article_0717084e-f08a-11e6-9fcb-636a74eceacb.html|archive-date=2019-08-29|url-status=live|url-access=subscription |access-date=February 12, 2017}}</ref> He was buried in [[Fort Benning Main Post Cemetery]] on February 17, 2017, with full military honors and laid to rest beside his wife of 55 years who died in 2004.<ref name=Burial>{{cite web |website=YouTube| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnNMmOk16gM   |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/lnNMmOk16gM| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=Graveside Service Ft Benning, GA Lt. Gen. Hal Moore  | date=February 17, 2017 |access-date=28 February 2018| format=Video}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="Laid_to_Rest">{{cite web |  url= https://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/local/military/article133467409.html | author1= Williams, Chuck  | title= Retired Lt. Gen. Hal Moore remembered as great warrior, leader |website = Columbus Ledger-Enquirer  | date= 17 February 2017 | location= Columbus. GA | quote= He was buried with his wife of 55 years, Julia Compton Moore, who died in 2004}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
*In 1975, the [[United States Army Center of Military History]] published ''Building 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.<ref name="CMH90-3"/>
*In 1992, Moore wrote ''[[We Were Soldiers Once… And Young]]'' with co-author [[Joseph L. Galloway]]. The book was adapted into the 2002 film ''[[We Were Soldiers]]'', which was filmed at Forts [[Fort Benning|Benning]] and [[Fort Hunter Liggett|Hunter Liggett]], depicting Moore's command of 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, at Fort Benning and in the [[Battle of Ia Drang]].<ref name="Moore/Galloway(2008)221-222">{{Harvp|Moore|Galloway|2008|pp=[https://archive.org/details/wearesoldierssti0000moor/page/221/mode/2up 221-222]}}</ref>
*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 Vietnam'' was published in 2008. Moore and Galloway reunited to give an interview on the book at the [[Pritzker Military Museum & Library]] in September 2008.<ref name="Interview">{{cite web |url=http://www.pritzkermilitary.org/whats_on/pritzker-military-presents/joe-galloway-and-hal-moore-we-are-soldiers-still/ |title=Moore and Galloway Webcast Interview | website=[[Pritzker Military Museum & Library]]| date=September 17, 2008| url-access=subscription}}</ref>

==Awards and decorations==
=== Purple Heart ===
While 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."<ref>Letter dtd January 11, 1968 from Harold G. Moore to AGPB-AC, HQ, DA, TAGO</ref>

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."<ref>Letter dtd January 16, 1968 from AGPB-AC, HQ, DA, TAGO in official records of Harold G. Moore Jr</ref>

=== List of awards and decorations ===
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|colspan="3"|[[File:CIB2.svg|235px]]
|-
|colspan="3"|[[File:ArmyAvnBadge.png|180px]]
|-
|colspan="3"|{{ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=Distinguished Service Cross ribbon.svg|width=106px}} {{ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106px}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=106}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -73px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -53px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]]</span>
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=106}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -95px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:"V" device, brass.svg|21px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -75px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -55px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -35px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]]</span>
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=106px}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=106px}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -95px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Silver oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -75px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -55px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -35px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]]</span>
|{{ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=Joint Service Commendation ribbon.svg|width=106px}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -73px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -53px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]]</span>
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106px}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106px}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106px}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=Army of Occupation ribbon.svg|width=106px}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106px}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Korean Service Medal - Ribbon.svg|width=106}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -44px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|18px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -62px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|18px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -80px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|18px]]</span>
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=106px}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -44px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|18px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -62px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|18px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -80px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|18px]]</span>
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Vietnamese Gallantry Cross ribbon.svg|width=106}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -83px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:FR CdG palm br s.png|22px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -63px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:FR CdG palm br s.png|22px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -43px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:FR CdG palm br s.png|22px]]</span>
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=United Nations Service Medal Korea ribbon.svg|width=106px}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=106px}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=|ribbon=Korean War Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106px}}
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
!Badge
| align=center colspan="3" |[[Combat Infantryman Badge]] w/ Star
|-
!Badge
| align=center colspan="3" |[[United States Aviator Badge|Basic Army Aviator Badge]]
|-
!1st row
|colspan="2"|[[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Army Distinguished Service Cross]]<ref name="WPAoG" />
|colspan="1"|[[Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)|Army Distinguished Service Medal]]
|-
!2nd row
|[[Legion of Merit]] with two bronze [[oak leaf cluster]]s
|[[Bronze Star Medal]] with [["V" Device]] and three bronze Oak Leaf Clusters (three awards for Valor)<ref name="WPAoG" />
|[[Purple Heart]]
|-
!3rd row
|[[Air Medal]] w/ eight Oak Leaf Clusters
|[[Joint Service Commendation Medal]]
|[[Army Commendation Medal]] w/ 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 Medal]] w/ one bronze {{frac|3|16}}" [[service star]]s
|[[Korean Service Medal]] w/ three bronze {{frac|3|16}}" service stars
|-
!6th row
|[[Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal]]
|[[Vietnam Service Medal]] w/ three {{frac|3|16}}" bronze stars 
|[[Gallantry Cross (Vietnam)|Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross]] w/ three Palms
|-
!7th row
|[[United Nations Korea Medal]]
|[[Vietnam Campaign Medal|Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal]] w/ 1960– device
|[[Korean War Service Medal|Republic of Korea War Service Medal]]
|}
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|colspan="3"|[[File:7 Cav Rgt DUI.jpg|75px]]
|-
|colspan="3"|[[File:ViPaBa.jpg|155px]]
|-
|colspan="3"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=United States Army and U.S. Air Force Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Korean Presidential Unit Citation.png|width=106}}{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png|width=106}}
|-
|colspan="3"|[[File:1st Cavalry Division SSI (full color).svg|80px]]
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
!Badge
| align=center colspan="3" |[[7th Cavalry Regiment]] [[Distinctive Unit Insignia]]
|-
!Badge
| align=center colspan="3" |Republic of Vietnam [[Parachutist Badge]]
|-
!1st row
| align=center colspan="3" |[[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|US Army Presidential Unit Citation]]
|-
!2nd row
|[[Presidential Unit Citation (Korea)|Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation]]
|[[Vietnam Gallantry Cross|Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation]] (two awards)
|
|-
!Badge
| align=center colspan="3" |[[1st Cavalry Division (United States)|1st Cavalry Division]] [[Combat Service Identification Badge]]
|}
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|colspan="6"|[[File:Master Parachutist badge (United States).svg|120px]][[File:OldAirmobileBadge.gif|120px]]
|-
|colspan="6"|[[File:United States Army Staff Identification Badge.png|120px]] [[File:Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge.png|120px]]
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
!Badges
|colspan="6"|[[Master Parachutist Badge]]
|colspan="6"|[[Air Assault Badge|Original Air Assault Badge]] <br />{{small|''(Unofficial)''}}
|-
!Badges
|colspan="6"|[[Army Staff Identification Badge]]
|colspan="6"|[[Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge]]
|}

==Other recognition==
*[[Order of Saint Maurice (United States)|Order of Saint Maurice]] by the [[National Infantry Association]]<ref name=infantryassn/>
*Distinguished Graduate Award from the West Point Association of Graduates<ref name="WPAoG" />
*[[The Naming Commission]] recommended that Fort Benning be renamed [[Fort Moore]], after Moore and his wife Julia Moore.<ref name=recommendations>[[The Naming Commission]] (Aug 2022) [https://www.thenamingcommission.gov/faqs Recommendation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221009095243/https://www.thenamingcommission.gov/faqs |date=October 9, 2022 }}</ref> This recommendation was accepted and Fort Benning was called Fort Moore between May 11, 2023 and March 3, 2025.

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=Note}}

==Citations==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==References==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite web|title=Gathering of Eagles biography|url=http://goefoundation.org/eagles/eaglesbyyear/2007/319/Moore-Harold-G|website=Gathering of Eagles|access-date=10 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212163752/http://goefoundation.org/eagles/eaglesbyyear/2007/319/Moore-Harold-G|archive-date=February 12, 2017|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite web|title=Graduation Exercises|url=http://www.usnwc.edu/NWCSite/media/Graduation-Programs/17-June-1964-Graduation.pdf|website=The United States Naval War College|date=17 June 1964|access-date=3 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130331235910/http://usnwc.edu/NWCSite/media/Graduation-Programs/17-June-1964-Graduation.pdf|archive-date=March 31, 2013|df=mdy-all}}
* {{cite web|title=Harold G. Moore, Jr.|url=http://www.westpointaog.org/page.aspx?pid=576|work=2003 Distinguished Graduate Award| date=May 24, 2003 |publisher=West Point Association of Graduates|access-date=14 January 2014}}
* {{cite book|last=Guardia|first=Mike|title=Hal Moore: A Soldier Once…And Always |date=2013-11-05|publisher=Casemate Publishers|location=Havertown, Pennsylvania|isbn=978-1-61200-207-1}} 
* {{cite book|last=Moore|first=Harold G.|author2=Joseph L. Galloway|title=We Were Soldiers Once...and Young: Ia Drang: the battle that changed the war in Vietnam|year=1992|publisher=Random House|location=New York, New York|isbn=978-0-679-41158-1|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/weweresoldie00moor}}
* {{cite book|last= Moore|first= Harold G.|author2=Joseph L. Galloway|title=We Are Soldiers Still: A Journey Back to the Battlefields of Vietnam|year= 2008|publisher= Harper|location=New York, New York|isbn=978-0-06-114776-0}}
* {{cite web|last1=Moore|first1=Harold G.|title=Building a Volunteer Army: The Fort Ord Contribution|url=http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/090/90-3/CMH_Pub_90-3.pdf|work=Publications Catalog|publisher=U.S. Army Center of Military History|access-date=15 January 2014|author2=Jeff M. Tuten|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116114917/http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/090/90-3/CMH_Pub_90-3.pdf|archive-date=2014-01-16}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
*[http://www.pritzkermilitary.org/whats_on/pritzker-military-presents/joe-galloway-and-hal-moore-we-are-soldiers-still/ Joe Galloway and Hal Moore discuss ''We Are Soldiers Still''] at the [[Pritzker Military Museum & Library]]
*{{IMDb name|1051840}}
*{{C-SPAN|1030848}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Moore, Hal}}
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