Paul Davis: Gen. Hal Moore the perfect example of honor

He stood at the edge of the woods, near the tree line, a camp fire flickering behind him. A cascade of memories flooded his mind and brought a teary mist to his eyes. As he looked into the sky his breath was taken away. There dancing across the horizon were a thousand, no a million, stars in all their glory streaking their way through the heavens.

He saw them as his soldiers and former enemy soldiers who had fallen on the very ground where he stood. The tears in his eyes grew bigger, as they did again last week as he told a warrior’s story once again. It was his birthday, his 87th, and Three-Star General Hal Moore stood before a mesmerized crowd to again be honored for what he has done for his country.

He had led his troops into the Ia Drang Valley in Vietnam, some 450 brave souls. He had promised that his would be the first boot on the ground and the last to leave and he would not leave any of his men behind. “I brought you here and I’ll carry you home.” He did that, too; many in body bags.

That was the first major conflict of the war, as the general led the 1st battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, in the battle of Ia Drang in November 1965 when 450 men were dropped into a small clearing in the Ia Drang Valley. He had landed his meager force in the midst of a hornet’s nest. He and his men unknowingly were surrounded by more than 4,000 enemy troops in this God-forsaken place near the Cambodian border, and they quickly surrounded the small unit.

That heroic battle was chronicled in Moore’s book, “We Were Soldiers Once … And Young”, which was later made into a film. Moore was played by Mel Gibson.

In 1993, Gen. Moore went back to that Valley and met his old adversary, the general who commanded the North Vietnamese. With their lieutenants at their side, the men formed a circle, arm in arm, and made their peace. The two men who had fought mightily to kill each other so many years ago and before they parted for the last time, Gen, Moore received a kiss on both cheeks from his former foe. War truly is a startling thing.

Few things catch Gen. Moore off guard, but those shooting stars and his 87th birthday party last week at St. Michael’s Catholic Church certainly did. His children and grandchildren had all come to Auburn for what he thought was just a family gathering for his birthday. Somehow, they got him dressed in his Army Blues, complete with a chest-filled with his medals and brought him to the church.

When the doors swung open he was greeted by a few hundred of his closest friends and a double column of Auburn Army ROTC cadets wearing white gloves, spit-shined shoes and extending crisp salutes.

Folks came from all over America. The head table was as wide as a football field and the names were a who’s who of this great nation. There was a special blessing from the Pope (the general is a devout Catholic) city officials from his home town, classmates from high school and west point, local city and county officials, Rear Admiral Paul Rosser from Atlanta, Hall of Famer Red Schoendienst from St. Louis, the Honorable U.S. Sen. Max Cleland (forever wheelchair bound after losing both legs and one arm in Vietnam. (Atlanta), Tony LaRussa, manager, St. Louis Cardinals, David C. Pratt (St. Louis) – co-owner, St. Louis Cardinals Howard Schultz, Starbucks Founder and CEO – Lifetime Card for Starbucks Sully Sullenberger signed photo and message to Hal Moore of US Airways plane in the Hudson River. Chief Justice Bo Torbert.

The list goes on and on. The party lasted the better part of four hours. They went by quickly. In the audience was an old curmudgeon and friend, Joe Galloway who was co-author of both of Gen. Moore’s books. He is a war correspondent, who was with the general at Ia Drang,

I get to eat supper with Gen. Moore from time to time. He is one of the most Godly men I know. He goes to Ft. Benning in Columbus, Ga., often to kneel and pray at the grave of his beloved wife Julie and at each of the graves of his men.

He knows much about war, its ugly side, about love, a relationship with God and about the need for great, honorable leaders. He is the perfect example.

Paul Davis writes a Sunday column or the Opelika-Auburn News. You may contact him at paul_davis@charter.net