Posted on 02/11/2017 1:00:52 PM PST by BulletBobCo
Two weeks ago, a senior commander with the U.S. Army’s 1st Cavalry Division, serving in battle-hardened Afghanistan, sent a letter to Auburn, Alabama.
It was addressed to a national hero.
“You are a true legend…and continue to inspire the troops of today, all across the globe,” he wrote. “We hold one of your edicts close to our hearts – ‘No second-place trophies.’ The winning spirit is alive and well.”
A few months earlier, movie stars Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughn made a special trip to Auburn for the sole purpose of seeing this same hero.
He and Gibson had met several times before and have become good friends. Gibson portrayed him in the lead role of the film, “We Were Soldiers.”
Retired Lt. Gen. Hal Moore passed away late Friday night. He would have turned 95 years old on Monday, and the Army hero known for saving most of his men and surviving a fierce standoff despite being outnumbered 10-to-1 in the first major battle of the Vietnam War proved to be a ferocious fighter to the very end.
“He had another stroke last week,” one of his children said Thursday evening. “He’s still hanging tough.”
Moore’s family already was in town this weekend to celebrate his 95th birthday with a reunion of all five children here at their Auburn home that has been in the extended family since 1950.
They held a private family celebration with birthday cake Thursday evening, with longtime family friend Mayor Bill Ham invited to join them.
Ham brought with him a framed proclamation that he presented to Moore and his children soon after the traditional singing of “Happy Birthday” and the siblings’ united effort in blowing out two candles carved into waxed infantrymen.
Ham later pondered, however, where it might hang as he surveyed the memorabilia-covered walls in Moore’s study, including another proclamation or two Ham had presented Moore in years past.
It mattered little. “Any mayor anywhere would be honored to have him as a cherished resident and cherished member of the community,” Ham said of his friend.
Rest in peace, Sir.
RIP General Moore...you ae the type of stufff...the real stuff...this nation has survived because of. God bless you in the HEavens. You were true to your men, to your cause, to this nation, and to all of us.
RIP General Moore...you ae the type of stufff...the real stuff...this nation has survived because of. God bless you in the HEavens. You were true to your men, to your cause, to this nation, and to all of us.
For our less knowing comrades, Rick Rescorla was a GREAT hero and martyr of 09/11's attack on the World Trade Center's towers. He guided many to safety and died going back to save more. A Cornwall Englishman, he joined the US Army in 1963 and was a platoon leader for Col. Moore.
Once again I will put on the USMA's Glee Club album, "Stand Ye Steady" and think of these heroes! God blesses our country with such men, may we never forget them!
I highly encourage ANYONE and everyone to consider reading the following 2 books. They are short reads, but amazing!
“A General’s Spiritual Journey” (Written after the death of GEN Moores beloved wife Julia.........and
“A Tender Warrior-5 Leadership Letters to America” by GEN Moore
They are fantastic reads and give a brief insight into the depth of this amazing man and warrior.....I am saddened by his passing, but blessed to have known of him during his life
Rest in peace soldiers ...... Thank You.
Moore and Plumley had more balls between them than did all of Obama’s Pink Pussy generals in the JCS and as his Secretaries of Defense, the Army, the Navy, and even the Air Force.
Once met Joe Galloway, the author of the book about Moore and the Battle of Ia Drang Valley. A real journalist with guts, who when he saw that our men were in real danger of being overrun, dropped his notebooks and grabbed a rifle to stop the NVA.
Never let the anti-Vietnam leftists and pseudo-historians denigrate the service and valor of our fighting men and women in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. NEVER!
AMEN, SHipmate!!
RIP, Lt. Gen. Hal Moore. Your life made a difference.
For those who do not know of R. Guyer, clic the hyperlinked word "who", above to access some introductory info (in photo form).
Stand down Sir, your duty done, as we mourn the setting of the sun...
Prayers for the family.
Fiddler’s Green
Halfway down the trail to Hell,
In a shady meadow green
Are the Souls of all dead troopers camped,
Near a good old-time canteen.
And this eternal resting place
Is known as Fiddlers’ Green.
Marching past, straight through to Hell
The Infantry are seen.
Accompanied by the Engineers,
Artillery and Marines,
For none but the shades of Cavalrymen
Dismount at Fiddlers’ Green.
Though some go curving down the trail
To seek a warmer scene.
No trooper ever gets to Hell
Ere he’s emptied his canteen.
And so rides back to drink again
With friends at Fiddlers’ Green.
And so when man and horse go down
Beneath a saber keen,
Or in a roaring charge of fierce melee
You stop a bullet clean,
And the hostiles come to get your scalp,
Just empty your canteen,
And put your pistol to your head
And go to Fiddlers’ Green.
Always Ready Sir!
RIP.
Interesting you mention Rescorla, a giant of a man himself but who is pretty much airbrushed from Gibson’s movie, when surely he could have received a more prominent role. I wonder why this was so.
For Garry Owen in Glory!!!
thanks for posting! fyi, I’ve spent the past 3 hours watching the movie and researching and reading about General Moore and the battle.
There’s a great article I found that was a writing by someone who had researched NVA records. Long Story short, they did not feel they had won that battle. 3 officers were severely reprimanded for leadership failures and their losses, they admit, were abominable. Lazy Wiki portrays the battle as a tie. It was not. The NVA retired from the battlefield and could not fight anymore. Our guys hung around several days.
RIP and THANK YOU for your service!
RIP General Moore.
.
MOORE’s ‘Smile of Victory’ at the IA DRANG-1965 (See Obit) http://www.lzxray.com/content/guyer-moore-lz-falcon
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