'We Were Soldiers' hero passes; the celebrated life story of a soldier, a leader

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.


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God Bless You Hal Moore