Bardstown native retired Lt. Gen. Hal Moore dies at age 94

NC GAZETTE / WBRT RADIO
STAFF REPORT

Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, 7 p.m. — The Bardstown native whose book about Vietnam was the basis for Mel Gibson’s “We Were Soldiers” died Friday, just a few days short of his 95th birthday.

RETIRED LT. GEN. HAL MOORE

Retired Lt. Gen. Hal Moore, formerly of Bardstown, died in his sleep Friday night at his home in Auburn, Ala. His family told a local newspaper Moore suffered another stroke last week.

Moore’s 2001 book, “We Were Soldiers Once, and Young,” co-authored with former war correspondent Joe Galloway, told the story of his service during the Vietnam War as commander of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment in the 1965 Battle of Ia Drang.

Moore is known for saving most of his men and surviving the fierce standoff that was the first major battle of the Vietnam War

He was preceded in death by his wife, Julie Compton, in 2004.

He is survived by two daughters; three sons; 11 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Initial reports from Auburn, Ala., media indicate his Funeral Mass will be held at St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church in Auburn, Ala., followed by a memorial service and burial at Fort Benning, Ga.

Memorial donations may be made to the Ia Drang Scholarship Fund, which was established in 1994 using proceeds from his book and speaking engagements. The fund is used to help the children and grandchildren of the veterans of the Ia Drang battles.

Please send checks to the Ia Drang Scholarship Fund, c/o Executive Director, 1st Cavalry Division Association, 302 North Main, Copperas Cove, TX 76522.

BACKGROUND. Moore was born in Bardstown Feb. 13, 1922, the eldest of four children born to Harold, Sr. and Mary (Crume) Moore. Moore’s father was an insurance agent whose territory covered western Kentucky; his mother was a homemaker.

Moore was interested in an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, so at age 17 he left Bardstown and moved to Washington, D.C. He took a job in the U.S. Senate book warehouse and completed high school at night, and graduated from St. Joseph Preparatory School in 1940.

Moore was offered an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy by U.S. Rep. Ed Creal who represented Kentucky’s 4th District. Moore didn’t want to attend the Naval Academy, and he asked Creal if he could find another member of congress who would trade the Naval Academy appointment for one to West Point. Moore ended up getting his appointment to the West Point from U.S. Rep. Eugene Cox of Georgia’s 2nd Congressional District.

Moore retired from active service on Aug. 1, 1977, after 32 years of service.

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