James Edward Moore Jr.

James Moore Jr. was born in Fort Thomas, Kentucky on 28 June 1931, the second child and only son of James Edward Moore, an Army officer, and his wife Mildred May Lindberg. As a military brat, he moved about frequently, including Tientsin, China, where his father was stationed from 1932 to 1935, and he learned to speak Mandarin Chinese. Moore graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, D.C., in 1949. While he was there, he dated a neighbor, Joan Marie Phillips. He then attended Sullivan's Prep School in Washington, DC. West Point cadets are not allowed to marry, but on 19 June 1954, shortly after graduation, he married Joan Phillips at Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania. They had seven children; three daughters: Elizabeth, Susan and Mary; and four sons: James, Robert, Michael, and Matthew. == Military career ==

Junior officer After graduation leave, Moore went to the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, for the Basic Course and Airborne and Ranger training. On completion in 1955, he was assigned to the 60th Infantry. The following year he was deployed to Heilbronn, Germany, where he served as a platoon and company commander in the 28th Infantry. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal. In 1957 he was posted to the 325th Infantry at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he earned a second Army Commendation Medal. He was promoted to first lieutenant the following year. Vietnam War That year, Moore volunteered for service in Vietnam, initially serving with the 1st Cavalry Division as a liaison officer to French plantation owners. He then became the S-3 (operations officer) of the 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. He became one of the first members of his class to command a battalion when he assumed command of the 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry while still a major. He distinguished himself in battle on 7 March 1967, and was awarded the Silver Star and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. He was awarded a bronze oak leaf cluster to his Army Distinguished Service Medal for this service. His final assignment, from 1987 until his retirement on 30 June 1989, was as commanding general of the Sixth United States Army, for which he was awarded a second bronze oak leaf cluster to his Army Distinguished Service Medal for this service. == Death and legacy ==

In retirement, Moore moved to Salinas, California, where he was involved as a civilian in developing plans for the redevelopment of Fort Ord. In March 1998, he was diagnosed with cancer, from which he died in Salinas on 30 January 1999. He was buried in the Arlington National Cemetery. A road in Fort Ord was named "General Jim Moore Boulevard" in his honor. After Joan died in 2002, a scholarship was established in their names for students at California State University, Monterey Bay, which is located on site of the former Fort Ord. == Notes ==