James Edward Moore
US Army 4 star general. Blev 83 år.
Far:
Mor:
Född:
1902-11-29 New Bedford, Bristol, Massachusetts.
Död:
1986-01-28 Washington, DC.
Barn med Mildred May Moore (1903 - 1976)
Barn:
Noteringar
James Edward Moore
NO. 7375 CLASS OF 1924 Died 28 January 1986 in Washington, DC, aged 83 years. Interment: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
JAMES EDWARD MOORE was born on 29 November 1902 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, the first of five sons of James
E. and Mary Daly Moore. As a young lad he loved to walk with his father along the busy docks of that old seafaring town
which was the scene for Moby Dick and Down to the Sea in Ships. He recalled seeing the last of the whaling ships under sail
return home from distant seas.
At the age of 16, his father died and Jim took the responsibilities of the man of the house. In high school, he organized
and commanded the first ROTC unit, lettered in football, managed the basketball team, was on the debating team, and was
president of his class for all four years.
Jim was off to West Point in the summer of 1920, proud to become a
member of the large postwar class called the "Thundering Herd." He
enjoyed his days as a cadet in K Company. As a second classman, he
began a small unit newspaper which cost five cents for a one year
subscription. It became a hit and expanded quickly into the Pointer. He
worked hard as an editor and also wrote and coached the Hundredth Night
Show.
Commissioned in the Infantry, he was assigned to a 5th Infantry unit
at Fort McKinley, Maine. There, he underwent his initial training as a
company officer while learning from older veterans of World War I. Jim
returned home to New Bedford in June 1926 to marry his high school
sweetheart, Mildred Lindberg.
Ordered to the Philippines in 1927, he joined the 31st Infantry at Fort
Santiago. There, his first child, Patricia, was born in 1928. In addition to
his regular duties, Jim coached the Manila basketball team. He returned to
the US in 1929 and was assigned to the 10th Infantry at Fort Thomas,
Kentucky, where he was a company commander and staff officer. His son
James was born there in 1931.
Jim was proud to attend the Infantry School in 1932 and learn from
instructors who later became famous in World War II. Next he picked
China and duty with the 15th Infantry in Tientsin. There, he was promoted to captain in 1935 and had the chance to make
several trips into Mongolia, Port Arthur, and Japan.
On his return to the US in 1936, he had a short assignment with the 28th Infantry at Fort Ontario, New York prior to
attending the Command and General Staff School in 1937-38. Jim claimed that he did his fair share of study but also enjoyed
the chance to fly with his classmate Jim Stowall on the weekends.
Posted next to Fort Sill and the 29th (later the 38th) Infantry, he particularly enjoyed the next three years as a company
commander and staff officer. His daughter Mary was born at Fort Sill in 1939.
Late in 1940, he went to Fort Sam Houston to become the aide to Brigadier General William H. Simpson '09, who was
the assistant commander, 2nd Infantry Division. Thus began a close relationship which lasted for many years. While aide, he
also acted as the G-3 for a short time.
In early 1941 as a new major, Jim and his family went to Washington, DC where he was diverted from G-3 into the
Budget and Legislative Planning Branch of the staff. He developed a formula to estimate costs of the Army expansion. Jim
claimed it was a bad day when he could not trim a few million off the staff requests.
Promoted to lieutenant colonel just after Pearl Harbor, he was called to the West Coast in February 1942 to be chief of
staff for General Simpson who had just taken command of the 35th Division. With the job came the promotion to colonel and
a succession of assignments as chief of staff of the 30th Division, XII Corps and Fourth Army.
A new brigadier general in January 1944 as chief of staff of Fourth Army, Jim assembled a highly professional and close
knit staff for General Simpson. He instituted a series of staff exercises and physical training. Then, in the spring of 1944, he
was off to England where the army was redesignated the Ninth Army. Charged initially with reception and training of
incoming units in England, Jim moved to France in August of 1944 as Ninth Army undertook the reduction of Brest and
actions in the Loire Valley. Then, Jim directed the staff as the Ninth Army moved east and participated in campaigns through
Luxembourg, Belgium, and into Germany. Jim was extremely proud of the success of the Ninth Army which operated under
both Bradley and then Montgomery. The crossing of the Roer, then the Rhine, the envelopment of the Ruhr, and a 225 mile
dash to the Elbe River in 19 days were solid accomplishments. General Simpson, totally confident of Jim's abilities to run the
Army headquarters, was free to lead and spend time up front. Jim even committed the Army reserve without asking. Bradley
spoke very highly of Jim's abilities in his book, A General's Life. Some said the Ninth Army never made a mistake. Jim said
they just did things by the book as they were taught at Leavenworth. He was promoted to major general in March 1945.
As the Ninth Army closed on the Elbe River, Jim was sent forward to accept the surrender of General of the Armored
Forces, General Baron Von Edelsheim, who turned over four corps and elements of the German Ninth Army. Then, when the
fighting was over, the Ninth Army began the process of planning for the move back to ports to sail for home mission
accomplished.
While on his way back through Paris, Jim got a cable to join General Simpson in Casablanca. From there, he and General
Simpson went to China on a mission for General Marshall to determine if an Army group headquarters could be employed in
that theater. Following consultations with General Wedemeyer in China and stops in Manila to see General MacArthur, and
at Guam to see Admiral Nimitz, Jim and General Simpson returned to the US. The first atomic bomb was dropped the day
they left Guam and the plans for China were cancelled.
Af After deactivation of the Ninth Army at Fort Bragg, Jim moved to Memphis, Tennessee as Second Army chief of staff in
October 1945. While most of the wartime staff was still together, Jim had them write the Ninth Army's history, a fine book
entitled Conquer. The headquarters soon moved to Fort Meade and Baltimore to execute the many deactivations of units and
soldiers after the war. Jim was reduced to brigadier general again as the Army got smaller, but was happy to be back with his
family.
In January 1947, he was sent to Hawaii to organize the South Sector Command consisting of all posts on Oahu except
Schofield. Jim enjoyed his tour there with the family for about one year at Fort DeRussy, which was then a quiet and restful
spot.
He returned to the Pentagon in March 1948 to become the secretary of the General Staff as the Army Staff reorganized
under General Bradley. In November 1950 he moved to Fort Riley to command the 10th Mountain Division, which was then
training replacements for the Korean War. While there, Jim made many innovative changes to ensure that our young soldiers
were well prepared for war to include combat marksmanship and tough bayonet courses. In May of 1951 he was struck
suddenly with a severe case of tuberculosis and thus ended his chance to go to Korea to command a division as he had been
promised.
For the next two years, while the Korean War raged on, Jim underwent major surgical operations at Fitzsimmons in
Denver. He had missed his chance to command in combat. He felt his career was ended. However, his deep faith and inner
strength sustained him. Upon recovery, he was grateful to be retained on active duty, promoted to major general again, and
assigned to become the commandant of the Army War College in April 1953.
Jim began what he described as his most delightful assignment. He made changes in the National Strategy portion of the
curriculum, brought in controversial guest lecturers, set up the first trips to the United Nations, and reestablished close and
friendly relations with the people of Carlisle.
Next, Jim was off to Okinawa to command the Ryuku Islands and the IX Corps. While there, he was promoted to
lieutenant general in 1956 and was appointed the first High Commissioner in 1957. Jim felt that his tour there was his most
challenging in peacetime. He worked hard at teaching the people about democracy, and was always visiting small villages
where he "ate cold shrimp and drank warm coke." He remarked that everyone remembers the rights and benefits of
democracy, but few know about its duties and responsibilities. His efforts were fruitful in preventing communism from
gaining ground.
General Taylor selected Jim to be his deputy chief of staff for Operations in June of 1958. As the DCSOPS, he was
involved in solving many thorny problems and always contributed a clear perspective and sound advice.
In November 1959, he was assigned to SHAPE Headquarters outside Paris as chief of staff to General Norstad. Promoted
to general in April 1960, Jim enjoyed working for General Norstad whom he considered a most brilliant and professional
officer. While there, they worked through many problems such as those concerning Berlin, Greece-Turkey and the Baltic.
Although scheduled to retire in 1962, Jim was asked to stay on when General Lemnitzer became Supreme Allied Commander
Europe. Finally, after 39 years of dedicated service, Jim retired in June 1963. His numerous awards and decorations included
the Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star and
decorations from France, Britain, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the Republic of China and the USSR.
Suffering many months from a severe and painful nerve disorder in his head, Jim entered Walter Reed after a short leave
and underwent surgery which helped relieve the pain, but caused some other problems with which he learned to live. Then,
he and Mildred settled in a lovely home in Arlington, Virginia. Jim was called to work for Research Analysis Corporation in
McLean where he enjoyed five years working on wargames, studies and strategy. He and Mildred visited family and friends
and especially enjoyed vacations at Cape Cod near their original home in New Bedford.
With a son and two sons-in-law as infantry officers, Jim watched with pride as the next generation progressed and as
they went off to fight in Vietnam. He and Mildred loved their role as grandparents. Their home was always a snug harbor to
the family as they changed stations or when husbands went on short tours.
Jim underwent more serious surgery for lung cancer and a hip replacement but always bounced back, full of life and
enthusiasm.
Jim's wife Mildred died in 1976 after a long illness. While terribly saddened at his loss, Jim drew upon his very deep
religious beliefs and carried on giving hope and encouragement to all the family. He took time every day to pray. He seldom
missed a Class of 1924 affair and was frequently on the go to visit friends and family.
After more than five years alone in his Arlington home, he became a very close friend to Anne Farrell, the widow of
Lieutenant General Frank Farrell ('20) who lived nearby. In April 1982, Jim and Anne were married at a Nuptial Mass at Fort
Myer. They both embraced each other's family and began a wonderful marriage together, sharing the strengths of affection,
devotion and mutual friends. Some remarked that Jim was the only man they knew who had married two saints. Jim and
Anne's warm home welcomed visits by children, grandchildren and friends.
In January 1986, at the age of 83, he entered Walter Reed for the last time. He sensed the end was near. He visited with
his immediate family and gave out his final instructions as if the Ninth Army was about to cross the Rhine. His son made it
home from Korea to see him on his last day. When the family had gone home, and the priest had made his final call, Jim
departed this world for the next. He was ready.
At his Mass of the Resurrection at Fort Myer, Jim's two families, classmates, and many close friends gathered to pay
tribute to a man they truly respected. Fifteen grandchildren from around the world were there to read the scriptures and to
sing the special music they had selected.
In his eulogy, Jim's son remembered his father as a great soldier, a loving father and a friend. That he was! Let it be said,
"Well done, be thou at Peace."
Jim Moore is survived by his wife Anne; a brother Carroll; daughter Patricia Shanahan; son Lieutenant General James
Moore, Jr.; daughter Mary Sloan and sixteen grandchildren.