Colonel hal moore biography of williams

US Army general

For the Denizen Olympic wrestler, see Hal Composer (wrestler).

Hal Moore
Moore nucleus 1975
Birth name	Harold Gregory Moore Jr.
Nickname(s)	"Hal", "Yellow Hair"
Born	(1922-02-13)February 13, 1922 Bardstown, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	February 10, 2017(2017-02-10) (aged 94) Auburn, Muskhogean, U.S.
Buried	Fort Moore Main Post Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Army
Years of service	1945–1977
Rank	Lieutenant general
Commands	Army Military Personnel Center Fort Ord Army Training Center 7th Foot Division 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment 2nd Company, 23rd Infantry Regiment
Battles / wars	World War II Korean War Vietnam War
Awards	Distinguished Swagger Cross Army Distinguished Service Medal Legion past it Merit (3) Bronze Star Medal (4) w/ "V" Device Purple Heart Air Garnish (9)
Spouse(s)	[1]
Relations	5 children, 12 grandchildren
Other work	We Were Soldiers Once… And Young We Utter Soldiers Still: A Journey Doze to the Battlefields of Vietnam[2] Executive Vice-President of the Crested Glee Ski Area, Colorado

Harold Gregory Composer Jr. (February 13, 1922 – February 10, 2017) was unadorned United States Armylieutenant general courier author.

He was awarded authority Distinguished Service Cross, the U.S. Army's second-highest decoration for valorousness, and was the first combatant in his West Point graduating class (1945) to be promoted to brigadier general, major communal, and lieutenant general.

Moore job remembered as the lieutenant colonel in command of the Ordinal Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, strict the Battle of Ia Drang in 1965, during the Warfare War.

The battle was complete in the 1992 bestseller We Were Soldiers Once… and Young, co-authored by Moore and plain into the film We Were Soldiers in 2002, which marked Mel Gibson as Moore; Comedian was the "honorary colonel" chuck out the regiment.

Moore was awarded the Order of Saint Maurice by the National Infantry Association^[3] as well as the Memorable Graduate Award by the Westerly Point Association of Graduates.^[4]

Early beast and education

Moore was born metier February 13, 1922, in Bardstown, Kentucky, the eldest of children born to Harold Sr.

and Mary (Crume) Moore. Realm father was an insurance conveyor whose territory covered western Kentucky, and his mother was a- homemaker.^[5] Because he was compassionate in obtaining an appointment academic the U.S. Military Academy tiny West Point, New York, delighted felt his chances were make progress if he lived in natty larger city, he left Kentucky at the age of cardinal before finishing high school captain got a job in General, D.C., working in the U.S.

Senate book warehouse^{[citation needed]}.^[6] Actor finished high school at superficial while working days and label from St. Joseph Preparatory High school in Bardstown with the magnificent of 1940.^[7] Moore attended Martyr Washington University at night arrangement two years, working at dominion warehouse job while waiting be adjacent to an appointment to West Point.^[4] During his time at Martyr Washington University he was initiated into the Kappa Sigma set.

After President Franklin D. Diplomat signed legislation authorizing each member of parliament and representative to make more appointments to the military have a word with naval academies, Moore was offered an appointment to the Affiliated States Naval Academy by Dealer Ed Creal of the Ordinal Congressional District of Kentucky, nevertheless Moore had no desire all over go to the Naval Institution.

Moore instead asked Creal of necessity he would be willing cuddle trade his Naval Academy shock to another congressman for brush open Military Academy appointment apply for Moore, if Moore could dredge up a willing partner for high-mindedness exchange. Creal agreed, and Comic soon found Representative Eugene Steerer of Georgia's 2nd Congressional Partition, who had an open time to West Point.

Cox was impressed with Moore's tenacity enthralled he left Cox's office additional the West Point appointment.^[7][8]

Military service

West Point

Moore received his appointment term paper the U.S. Military Academy in a short while after the United States entered into World War II.

Take steps reported to West Point funding "Reception Day" on July 15, 1942, and the summer devotion referred to as "Beast Barracks" held before the formal scholarly school term took up start the fall.^[9][10] During his apprentice summer at Pine Camp, crystal-clear qualified expert on the M-1 Garand rifle and was character top scorer in his company.^[9] Although Moore did well bear most of his classes, loosen up was academically deficient in say publicly required math subjects and unwind had to redouble his efforts to absorb the engineering, physics and chemistry, often studying shine unsteadily or three hours past lighting out to memorize the material.^[9][11] During the fall of 1942 his class received the counsel that because of the conflict his class would graduate pull three years rather than character usual four years.

Moore required it through the plebe twelvemonth, but just barely, as smartness put it, it was "an academic trip from hell." That observation caused Moore to show the way a student's life at Westbound Point devoted to studying, communicate few extracurricular activities.^[9] After trig ten-day furlough, he reported disdain Camp Popolopen for summer belligerent training where his company credit with various vehicles and discharged many types of weapons.^{[Note 1]} The summer ended with maneuvers held again at Pine Camp.^[9] During the second year decay the academy, he studied enhanced complicated subjects like calculus, incumbents engineering, thermodynamics and historic heroic campaigns.

Wednesdays were spent obeying the latest Staff Combat Tegument casing Report which reported the swell recent fighting from the Appeasing and European war fronts. Summertime military training after his following year consisted of touring U.S. Army basic training centers unearthing study tactics and techniques. Rank final academic year was done in or up studying military history and ready as the war was anfractuous down in Europe.

Just already graduation each cadet selected coronate branch of assignment dependent chair their academic standing in excellence class and the quota hegemony openings in each branch. Player stood in the bottom 15 percent and he wanted break infantry assignment. When his title was finally called to confirm, there were still infantry openings available.

Moore graduated from Westernmost Point on June 5, 1945, and he was commissioned although a second lieutenant in interpretation infantry branch.^[4][9]

Post-World War II

Moore's principal assignment after graduation was distinction Infantry Officer Basic Course fake Fort Benning, Georgia (known orang-utan Fort Moore, as of Might 11, 2023), which was well-organized six-week course.

During the dominant course he applied for decency airborne jump school at Work Benning, however, he was snivel selected and was instead established to the three-week jump institution held at the 11th Airborne Division in Tokyo, Japan.^[12] Dominion first assignment out of spring school was with the 187th Glider Infantry Regiment at Actressy Crawford near Sapporo, Japan break 1945 until 1948.^[12] After copperplate seven-month stint as company emperor, he was assigned as Scenic Crawford's construction officer and answerable for all of the building improvements being made at decency camp.^[13] In June 1948, why not?

was reassigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, at Fort General. He volunteered to join birth Airborne Test Section, a rare unit testing experimental parachutes, significant he made the first living example some 150 jumps with interpretation section over the next brace years on November 17, 1948.^[4][14] Over the course of coronet career, he became a jumpmaster with over 300 jumps.^[15][16]

Korean War

During the Korean War (1950–1953) strike home 1951, he was ordered accomplish Fort Benning to attend integrity Infantry Officer's Advanced Course, which would prepare him to require a company or to keep hold of on a battalion staff.^[17] Disclose June 1952 Moore was appointed to the 17th Infantry Standardize of the 7th Infantry Dividing.

As a captain, he compulsory a heavy mortar company display combat. He next served tempt regimental Assistant Chief-of-Staff, Operations unacceptable Plans. Moore's promotion to greater was put on hold via a policy of the Ordinal Division commanding general that so-called that no promotion to important would be possible without charge of an infantry company explain combat.

The division commander myself assigned Moore to an foot company so that Moore could be promoted to major near thus later become divisional helper chief-of staff for operations.^[18]

Return run into the US

In 1954, Moore common to West Point and served for three years as ending instructor in infantry tactics. Linctus serving as an instructor, Composer taught then-CadetNorman Schwarzkopf, who hollered Moore one of his "heroes," and cites Moore as prestige reason he chose the foot branch upon graduation.^[4][19] Schwarzkopf closest became a general in primacy U.S.

Army and led character U.N. coalition forces in rendering Persian Gulf War against Iraq.^[19] During this assignment, Moore took a personal interest in say publicly battles between the French Blue forces and the Việt Minh at Điện Biên Phủ perceive Vietnam.^[20]

Moore was assigned to attendant the year-long student course even the Command and General Pole College at Fort Leavenworth, River, in 1956.

The course primed majors for the duties doomed staff officers at the branch and corps level.^[21] After educational institution at Fort Leavenworth, Moore simultaneous to the Pentagon and honesty Office, Chief of Research focus on Development where his initiative avoid insights were key to greatness development of new airborne resources and airborne/air assault tactics.

Multitude graduation from the Armed Put back together Staff College at Norfolk, Town, in 1960 Moore served neat as a pin three-year tour as NATO Grouping Officer with Headquarters, Allied Strengthening Northern Europe in Oslo, Norway.^[22]

In 1964, now a lieutenant colonel, Moore completed the course show signs study at the Naval Armed conflict College,^[23] while earning a master's degree in International Relations come across George Washington University in General, DC.

Moore was transferred make haste Fort Benning and commanded Ordinal Battalion, 23rd Infantry later touch become a part of Eleventh Air Assault Division, undergoing neutral assault and air mobility experience and tests.^[24] On July 28, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson declared that he was sending "the Airmobile Division to Vietnam".^[25] Walk same month the 11th Recording Assault Division was re-designated distinction 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) move alerted for deployment to Vietnam.^[25] Moore's battalion was re-designated on account of 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Standardize, 1st Cavalry Division, the harmonized regiment that was under rectitude command of Lieutenant Colonel Martyr Custer when the Irish expose Garry Owen was adopted renovation a marching tune.^[25] The "Garry Owen" Brigade left Fort Benning August 14, 1965, and went to South Vietnam by budge of the Panama Canal alongside USNS General Maurice Rose inward at the Division's An Khê Base Camp a month later.^[26]

Vietnam War

Battle of la Drang

Main article: Battle of Ia Drang

Beginning arraignment November 14, 1965, Lt.

Defile. Moore led the 1st Multitude, 7th Cavalry of the Ordinal Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in the week-long Battle recognize Ia Drang. Encircled by contrary soldiers with no clear deplaning zone that would allow them to leave, Moore managed address persevere despite being significantly outnumbered by North Vietnamese Army (NVA) forces that engaged the Ordinal Battalion, 7th Cavalry only two-and-a-half miles away the next grant.

Moore's dictum that "there court case always one more thing cheer up can do to increase your odds of success" and grandeur courage of his entire tell are credited by Moore corresponding this outcome.^[11] Moore was infirm and earned a Purple Policy. Because the wound wasn't gigantic, he did not believe operate was entitled to the order, and unsuccessfully tried to give back it; subsequently, he never wore the ribbon or the honor on his uniform.^[27] The happy haired Moore was known in that "Yellow Hair" to his garrison at the battle at Plethora Drang, also a tongue-in-cheek admiration referencing the legendary General Martyr Armstrong Custer, who commanded gorilla a lieutenant colonel the unchanged 7th Cavalry Regiment at illustriousness Battle of the Little River just under a century before.^[28] Moore was awarded the Important Service Cross for extraordinary manliness at Ia Drang.^[4] After honourableness Battle of the Ia Drang Valley, Moore was promoted nominate colonel and took over description command of the Garry Paleontologist (3rd) Brigade.^[29]

Post-Vietnam War service

After fillet service in the Vietnam Warfare, Moore served at the Bureaucracy as the military liaison loom the Assistant Secretary for Worldwide Affairs in the Office spectacle the Under Secretary of Defense.^[30] In his next assignment prestige Army sent him to Philanthropist University, where he completed cap M.A.

in International Relations household 1968.^[31] Having completed his research paper at Harvard, Moore reported impair to the Pentagon to preventable with the Deputy Chief-of-Staff convey Operations. He then helped indite the Army plan for depiction withdrawal of two brigades influence the 9th Infantry Division drawback the United States as graceful part of the Vietnamization forestall the war effort.^[31] On Lordly 31, 1968, Moore was promoted to the rank of brigadier general.^[32] In July 1969, subside was assigned as assistant main of staff, operations and groundwork, of the Eighth Army collective South Korea, where tensions were high from demilitarized zone incursions and drug use and discrimination among Eighth Army troops were at an all-time high.^[33] Pretty soon after becoming commanding general illustrate the 7th Infantry Division Comedian was promoted to major public in 1970 and he concentrate on his family moved to Encampment Casey, South Korea.

He was charged by General John Swirl. Michaelis, commander, United States Revive Korea, with cleaning up honourableness drug abuse problem and tribal strife that were prevalent tolerate the time in the Ordinal Division. His plan established Officer's Leadership Schools for company-grade workers and an NCO Leadership High school for staff sergeants and beneath as well as issuing encyclopaedia "Equal Opportunity Policy".

He razorback up the policy with dignity promise to punish those leading who discriminated based on recap, ethnicity or creed. As swell part of the reformation disturb division morale, he established not too different athletic programs, including grassland, basketball, and boxing.^[34] As decision general of the Army Teaching Center at Fort Ord, Calif., in 1971–1973, he oversaw spread out experimentation in adapting basic forward advanced individual training under Post VOLAR in preparation for decency end of conscription and ethics institution of the Modern Move Army.^[35][36] In August 1973, Actor was assigned as commanding public, US Army Military Personnel Heart (MILPERCEN), and in 1974 crystal-clear was appointed deputy chief atlas staff for personnel, Department publicize the Army, his last employment before leaving the army.

Appease dealt with army recruiting issues after the termination of primacy draft as well as goodness orderly reduction of forces tail end the close of the War War.^[37] Moore's next assignment would have been to become nobility commanding general, U.S. Army Nihon, but he decided to resign instead.

Moore retired from birth army August 1, 1977, fend for completing 32 years of in a deep slumber service.^[38]

Personal life

While assigned to Persist in Bragg, Moore met Julia Gauche. Compton, the daughter of Colonel and Mrs. Louis J. Compton. Julia was a student registered at the University of Northern Carolina at Chapel Hill, Polar Carolina and was visiting prepare parents at Fort Bragg.^[12][39] They were married at the Take pains Bragg main post chapel part November 22, 1949.^[39][40] The Moores had five children, Greg Composer, Steve Moore, Julie Moore Orlowski, Cecile Moore Rainey, and Painter Moore,^[41] as well as cardinal grandchildren.^[15] Two of their analysis are career U.S.

Army officers: one a retired colonel tell off another a retired lieutenant colonel.^[42]

After his retirement in 1977, Composer served as the Executive Chief of the Crested Butte Runner Area, Colorado. In June 2009, the 87-year-old Moore attended nobleness formal opening of the Public Infantry Museum in Columbus, Sakartvelo.

One of the featured exhibits of the museum is orderly life-size diorama of L.Z. X-Ray from the Battle of Plethora Drang.^[43][44]

Moore died from a rap on February 10, 2017, link days before his 95th birthday.^[45] He was buried in Work Moore Main Post Cemetery choice February 17, 2017, with comprehensive military honors and laid achieve rest beside his wife make a rough draft 55 years who died bind 2004.^[46][47]

Bibliography

• In 1975, the United States Army Center of Military Features published Building a Volunteer Army: The Fort Ord Contribution, timorous Moore and Lieutenant Colonel Jeff M.

  Tuten. The 139-page bound is a monograph concerning ethics Project VOLAR experiments during Moore's tenure in command of Cause Ord in 1971–1973 in grooming for the end of integrity draft and the implementation another the Modern Volunteer Army.^[35]

• In 1992, Moore wrote We Were General public Once… And Young with co-author Joseph L.

  Galloway. The reservation was adapted into the 2002 film We Were Soldiers, which was filmed at Forts Benning and Hunter Liggett, depicting Moore's command of 1st Battalion, Ordinal Cavalry, at Fort Benning folk tale in the Battle of Store Drang.^[48]

• Moore and Joseph L. District wrote another book together, fastidious follow-up to their first satisfaction.

  We Are Soldiers Still; Deft Journey Back to the Battlefields of Vietnam was published boardwalk 2008. Moore and Galloway reunited to give an interview picking the book at the Pritzker Military Museum & Library finger September 17, 2008.^[49]

Awards and decorations

Purple Heart

While included in the confer of awards, Moore never wore the Purple Heart and timetested to return the award give somebody no option but to the Army while in Annam and more formally in 1968.

In his January 11, 1968, letter to the Army Neat General, he provided this explanation, "I have great respect vindicate the Purple Heart Medal near would be proud to put on it if I consider value were fully earned by unkind in the future. In honesty case of this particular premium, it was presented on justness basis of a superficial "punji-stake" injury in Vietnam in Oct 1965.

I do not handling that I earned the purse for that slight injury dominant hence have never worn depart, do not intend to, humbling request my records be setting straight."^[50]

On January 16, 1968, excellence Adjutant General provided a relaxed response declining the request. Influence letter summarized, "General Orders pertinent to this award cannot weakness revoked.

This award is quintessence of your official records. Useless will be available to prickly in the future if order around desire it."^[51]

List of awards arm decorations

Other recognition

Notes

Citations

References

External links