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<em>CHARLES SARGENT MOORE</em> was born at Fort Benning, Georgia on 24 June 1936 to William Barnes (USMA Class of ’32) and Phyllis Sargent Moore. Bom to a military family, he spent his boyhood traveling from post to post. As a grammar school youth, Charley waged mock battles with lead tanks and soldiers on battlefields fashioned from the red clay of his Fort Benning backyard. His love of tanks was spawned there; so too his decision to attend West Point. He began high school at Columbus High, Georgia and graduated in 1954 from the Punahou Academy in Hawaii. Charley achieved his youthful ambition and received his appointment to West Point from Congressman Carl M. Vinson of Georgia, the congressman who also had appointed his father.</p>
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Moving from Hawaii to West Point is quite a shock to anyone, but Charley shook off that Pacific sunshine and accepted with a smile his misty Highland home. In the afternoons, he usually operated from the Varsity Pool, but military history was also up his alley. If the facts on Rommel or Custer were needed, Charley had them. The pressures unique to the Point did not daunt Charley, for he was a happy cadet. On the plain in June 1958, Charley realized his long held dream: he graduated and joined Armor.</p>
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Following graduation, Charley discovered two new loves: aviation (then still a part of Armor) and Judy. In November 1958, while attending flight school at Fort Rucker, he married Judith Ann Flick of Valley Stream, New York. Charley and Judy were blessed with two children, Jacqueline Brooks in 1961 and Michael Justin in 1964. From Fort Rucker, Charley and Judy went to Germany, where Charley served first in the 503rd Aviation Company and later as a platoon leader in the 2d Heavy Tank Battalion, 33rd Armor. From Germany, he went to the 72d Armor at Fort Stewart and on to the Armor School at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Subsequently, Charley served in Korea as a pilot with the 4th Missile Command.</p>
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In 1965, Charley was assigned to the Republic of Vietnam in Troop A, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. As scout platoon leader, Charley was flying an OH-13 from Pleiku in the Central Highlands when he was injured in a freak refueling accident. Because of the wound, he was removed from flight status and did not expect to be reinstated prior to his scheduled return stateside. While off flight status, Charley was assigned as S-1, 1st of the 9th Cavalry. A comrade serving in G-1, 1st Cavalry Division remarked, “it was very plain to see that he was not one for the paper mill. He was consumed with the thrill of flying and was eager to return to flying status. I did see him one more time, and he was a pilot again and happy beyond description.”</p>
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On 25 April 1967, Charley was piloting an OH-13 on a reconnaissance mission near Bong Son. “When a lift helicopter was shot down, Captain Moore immediately directed the insertion of a relief force to aid in securing the downed aircraft. As enemy fire filled the air, Captain Moore hovered his aircraft at treetop level to direct the organization of a defensive perimeter around the damaged aircraft and to determine the location of the hostile fire. When a large caliber machine gun began firing at the ground unit’s location and at his helicopter. Captain Moore immediately pin pointed the Viet Cong position. Captain Moore made a low pass on the position, directing his aircraft’s machine gun fire on the hostile emplacement. At this time a Viet Cong weapon took Captain Moore’s aircraft under fire, inflicting numerous hits, which caused the aircraft to crash.” Charley was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his display of conspicuous valor.</p>
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It is said that we live on in the remembrance of those we touched in our lifetime. Charley touched many lives. As the oldest son of a family of five, Charley provided joy, comfort and a source of pride to his parents and a shining example to his brother and sisters. As the head of a family himself, Charley is remembered and loved for his patience, care and pride in his wife and children. As a classmate and a comrade, Charley is remembered for his energy, his enthusiastic performance of his duty and his love of his country and the Army.</p>
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Godspeed, Charley, we will not forget you.</p>
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<em>His Family</em></p>