Honoring a True Team – LTG Hal & Mrs. Julie Moore, Namesakes of Fort Moore

by LTC (Ret.) Eurydice S. Stanley, PhD

May 11, 2023, the base located in Georgia formerly known as Fort Benning will be renamed Fort Moore in honor of Lieutenant General Harold “Hal” Moore and Mrs. Julia Moore (who went by Julie), a husband-and-wife dynamic duo who truly lived and reflected the Army’s values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, integrity and personal courage. ?I was proud to have met them while serving. They were early examples of social justice and champions of civil rights at a time when that was not the norm from people of their social standing. Although they were military royalty, I considered them both to be mentors and friends, the best of both worlds. It is a blessing to see them be recognized as the team they truly were.

After Congress created a Naming Commission to consider renaming bases and Department of Defense assets named after leaders who supported the Confederacy, the Moore’s five visionary children campaigned to have Fort Benning renamed after their parents. It was unprecedented for a base to be named after a husband and wife, but today’s ceremony must have been a special experience for the Moore children as their parents are now the only couple to have a military base named in their honor. In a WHAS11 News interview a year ago, son Steve Moore stated, “It’s really not just about making Fort Benning renamed for Hal and Julie Moore, it’s about lifting up the idea of the Command Team and Army Families.”

The Moore’s were staunch supporters of family and loving parents. When LTG Moore was deployed, Mrs. Moore managed all family matters at home and helped the other spouses left behind in Columbus, Georgia. Son Steve Moore also noted, “Without our mother’s contribution, our father would have not have been as effective as he could have been.” While LTG Moore, an Infantryman, famously led the Battle of Ia Drang Valley in Vietnam, Mrs. Moore waged war on the home front as a family advocate. Families used to receive notification of Service Members being killed in action via telegrams that were impersonally left in front doors by taxi drivers. Mrs. Moore stopped that practice, requesting that all notifications come to her so she could personally deliver the devastating news and support the grieving family members. She personally attended every unit funeral and served as a tower of strength for the families despite her own concerns for her husband. Mrs. Moore’s efforts created the foundation of Army Community Services. How fitting that this honor was bestowed to Mrs. Moore the day before Military Spouse Appreciation Day, further illuminating the critical partnership between spouse and service member, because both answer the call of duty for this country.

The Moore’s represented family goals and were an impressive, supportive team. To spend time with the Moore’s was to witness true love. Aside from times of war, they were inseparable. The Moore legacy was documented in the book We Were Soldiers, And Young Once, written by LTG Moore and his dear friend, Vietnam War journalist Joseph L. Galloway. The book shared Moore’s experiences while commanding the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in 1965. When the book became a movie in 2002, the world saw the struggles the Moore’s faced not only at war overseas, but also the battles at home due to segregation and discrimination as people of color fought for equality and basic human rights. The Moore’s supported the fight for equality and serve as the archetypes of inclusive, empathetic leadership.

I was introduced to the unique partnership that was “Team Moore” when Mrs. Moore replied to my emails to LTG Moore in 2003. From 2000 - 2004 I served as the Equal Opportunity Officer for Lieutenant General Roger C. Schultz, Director of the Army National Guard (DARNG), who like LTG Moore was a forward thinker who valued diversity. A former neighbor who served for LTG Moore provided his contact information when I shared that I was seeking leaders to speak for our new program, the DARNG Leadership Forum, which brought in recognized leaders who emphasized the human element of leadership. This program was in addition to our monthly equal opportunity and special emphasis programs. With the help of elite speakers like LTG Moore, our goal of emphasizing people first was accomplished. A leader’s leader, LTG Moore could always be found in the front while always being cognizant of and supporting his Soldiers. He fit the bill perfectly.

I sent several emails to LTG Moore in the hope of bringing him to our organization. I never heard from him, but Mrs. Moore replied:

Dear?Major Stanley,

?????General Moore does not do email - hates to admit but he never learned to type so I have to handle it all.?Right now I am in Texas visiting our daughter while he is attending a conference in Vail, CO.?We are in CO until the end of March and right now have no plans to be in the D.C. area in the near future.?You can contact him at XXX-XXX-XXXX.?I do know he is writing a book on leadership and is waaaaaaaaaaaaaay behind.?His editor is "on his back" to finish so he has really been trying to concentrate on that and cutting back on trips.

??????????Sincerely,

???????????Julie Moore

From the outset, I saw the unique Moore team. As it turned out, LTG and Mrs. Moore were able to come to DC and speak to the Army National Guard Directorate. Unfortunately, my baby daughter Grace was sick that day, so I was delayed in coming in to the office. After initial greetings, LTG Moore asked why I was there. “Excuse me, Sir?” I stammered. I never expected that question. “Isn’t your daughter sick?” he asked, looking me directly in the eye and awaiting my answer. He clearly was not going to move off the topic, so I tried to divert him. “I secured care, Sir. She is fine.” I hoped my words were true. As a new mother, I was no longer sure of anything anymore except the immense love I had for my child who was a true gift after the devastation of 9/11.

I was supposed to be at the Pentagon September 11th but was delayed by several people in need of equal opportunity assistance that day. I never turned anyone away from my office and didn’t realize how each of them actually served as angels who deterred my intention of turning in long overdue paperwork in a department where the plane struck. After that life-threatening event, my sights were readjusted from solely being a military Officer to actively pursuing my childhood dream, which was to become a mother. Ultimately, 9/11 became the world's wake-up call. Nine months to the day, we found out that we were blessed with a daughter. She was named Grace for God’s Unmerited Favor.?

As I considered what it took to receive the gift of my daughter, LTG Moore’s questioning made me want to retreat home. I struggled to regain my bearings. LTG Moore said firmly, “Your duty is with her, not with me. We’re fine. Go back home.” By then, I’m sure I was blushing. Needless to say, there was no way that I wasn’t going to be at that event, but I was truly grateful for LTG Moore’s concern and support. I expressed my gratitude but stood my ground. Realizing that I was not going to leave, LTG Moore looked at me and said, “Grace is all that matters.” Thankfully, he let me off the hook. Mrs. Moore watched our interaction silently from the sidelines, but it was clear that she stood in agreement with LTG Moore. I will never forget that exchange or LTG Moore's "Family First" approach. I am sure that sentiment was replicated with countless other Soldiers. The Moore’s truly walked their talk and are absolutely deserving of this honor. I pray they inspire other leaders.

To say that the Moore’s were impressive is an understatement. Mrs. Moore was the quintessential Army wife who had the rare distinction of being born in an Army hospital, raised an Army dependent and later becoming an Army Wife and Mom. At the end of her life, she was laid to rest in a military cemetery with her parents. She understood LTG Moore’s responsibilities in a way that few others could. Army life is not for everyone, but Mrs. Moore made the best of countless moves, serving as the foundation of the Moore family. Mrs. Moore's personal experiences provided a different perspective than most. In a 1996 letter, Mrs. Moore described her husband’s deployment, stating, “It all boiled down to me being a ‘single mother’ of five children, totally responsible for their health and welfare while being scared to death for the safety of my husband. Every day I wondered whether I would be next to get the telegram.” Mrs. Moore’s experiences while LTG Moore was deployed made her empathetic to the many challenges faced by military families.

During LTG Moore’s presentation during our Leadership Forum, he shared leadership insights honed on the field of battle and showed his heart and constant focus on his Soldiers. As one could imagine, our auditorium was packed to the brim during his speech, standing room only. He shared the compassionate wisdom that garnered him the Distinguished Service Cross for his outstanding leadership at Ia Drang. In his book, Hal Moore on Leadership: Winning When Outgunned and Outmanned, LTG Moore wrote, “The discipline that makes an effective leader begins in the home.” He remained focused on the family.

After his captivating presentation, LTG Moore signed books. The demand for his signature surpassed expectation. The line wrapping around the atrium, and LTG Moore graciously signed books, answered questions and took pictures for an hour until we ran out of books. I was grateful to receive his signature and asked Mrs. Moore to sign my book as well. She wrote, “Remember your Grace, she is special.” No truer words were ever written.?Mrs. Moore sent Grace a birthday card for her first birthday. I was touched by her thoughtfulness. Had she not passed away the following year in 2004, I believe the cards would have continued…that is just how thoughtful she was.

Mrs. Moore was a Model Mom who I came to revere so much that I dedicated my book of poetry that describes the joy and challenges of parenting titled God’s Grace: Psalms of Love, Laughter, Tears and Praise from Mother to Daughter to her and my dear Grandmother, Emmarhaye P. Mitchell. They were both caring, dedicated mothers who were tireless in their efforts to serve. I am grateful to have had them in my life to emulate as respected motherhood mentors. How fitting that the woman who has been referred to as the Mother of Army Community Services would be honored with a base in her name days before Mother’s Day!

Beyond knowing the incredible Moore team, my personal commitment to eradicating racism as a former Equal Opportunity Officer and current DEIA Consultant, and ardent desire to removing a Confederate name from a military base, another reason that Fort Moore’s renaming is special to me is due to knowing the name change was influenced by the relentless effort of my Florida A & M University Army ROTC Rattler Battalion classmate, LTC (Ret.) Troy Mosley, who has been fighting to remove Confederate names from military bases since 2015. He retired in 2011 after 20 years of service, four of which were at Fort Benning from 1996 – 2000 where he served in a myriad of positions to include Combat Health Support Instructor at the Infantry Center and School, S-3 at Martin Army Community Hospital, and Company Commander of the 14th Field Hospital.

Throughout his years of service, LTC Mosley was a staunch advocate of the military reflecting its espoused beliefs. Having bases named after Confederates was contrary to said beliefs. He noted, "Why would we fund and operate bases named for Confederate Generals if we wouldn't build a base today named for a Confederate? It is inconsistent with our values."?In 2015, Mosley gathered 26,000 signatures on a Change.org petition through his organization, Citizens for Intolerance, in support of renaming ten military bases named after Confederate leaders. Over the years, he continued to advocate by leading rallies, lobbying Congress, and consistently communicating the importance of the issue.

On May 24, 2020 Mosley tweeted Senator Elizabeth Warren, "Hundreds and thousands of black and brown people have given their lives for a country that still wishes to preserve a belief from white supremacy. Please draft legislation that allows our institutions to reflect our values." He linked that tweet to House Resolution 4179 which called for the renaming of bases named for Confederates, and tagged several political leaders to include Vice President Kamala Harris. The next day, George Floyd was viciously murdered and the video replayed incessantly before a horrified nation on the news. After Floyd’s death, Americans unified in an unprecedented way, with millions participating in marches across the country seeking change and justice. Two weeks later, Senator Warren made an impassioned plea to address systemic racism and address institutional discrimination by renaming bases named for Confederate leaders who defended African Americans being used as chattel slavery. Due to overwhelming bipartisan support, the amendment was added to the 2021 Defense Authorization Bill, despite opposition from the former presidential administration that blocked prior efforts in 2019.

A staunch historian at heart, in 2021 Mosley published The Armed Forces and American Social Change, which shares the history of the struggle for racial equality in the military and outlines how millions have overcome oppression to find opportunity through military service. He concluded the book with seven recommendations to advance equity in the military, to include the importance of renaming American bases. He wrote the former bases named for Confederates “…degrades the descendants of former slaves who serve, as well as the uniform service members whose ancestors fought to defeat the Confederacy.”

On October 12, 2022, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin signed an authorization to rename nine bases and eliminate 1,100 Confederate assets from American bases. He wrote, “The names of these installations and facilities should inspire all who call them home, fully reflect the history and values of the United States and commemorate the best of the republic that we are all sworn to protect.” Today, Fort Moore truly represents that description, along with eight other bases that have been or will soon be renamed after admirable leaders and concepts that reflect Army values to include Fort Gregg-Adams (Virginia), Fort Liberty (North Carolina), Fort Eisenhower (Georgia), Fort Walker (Virginia), Fort Cavazos (Texas), Fort Barfoot (Virginia), Fort Johnson (Louisiana), and Fort Novosel (Alabama).

After publishing God’s Grace in 2007, I sent LTG Moore a copy of the book so he could see the dedication to Mrs. Moore. He replied with a note of thanks, stating how much he missed her and how he looked forward to being with her again one day. On February 19, 2017, LTG Moore was forever reunited with his true love when he was laid to rest on base beside Mrs. Moore. Now that Fort Moore is renamed in their honor, their extraordinary union, exemplary service and commitment to the Army will be recognized and celebrated by all. I look forward to visiting Fort Moore in the near future to pay respect to my mentors and friends, two dedicated Americans whose love for the Army and impeccable service was only exceeded by their love for one another. Well done!