Charles Thomas Moore
Private First Class, U.S. Army

Charles Thomas Moore was born on 5 January 1970 in Ottumwa, IA. the son of William Sydney and Callie Dorene Becraft Moore.

Charles was drafted at the end of his junior year in college, shortly after his marriage to Judy Kapfer, and was inducted into the U.S. Army in June 1969.

On 5 January 1970, Private First Class Charles Thomas Moore was serving with Company D, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, in South Vietnam.

On that day, PFC Moore, a medical aidman, was with the 1st Platoon of Company D when it made contact with an enemy force located in a well-fortified bunker complex. A trooper to the front was severely wounded in the initial fire and, despite his own wrist wounds, PFC Moore moved through the enemy fire to treat and evacuate the wounded man. Subsequently, a rocket impacted that strafed the area with shrapnel, wounding the 1st Platoon leader and further injuring PFC Moore. PFC Moore moved to the aid of his platoon leader and evacuated the officer to safety. Then, noticing that his first patient had stopped breathing, PFC Moore performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until life and unassisted breathing were restored. As he was constructing a bamboo stretcher on which to carry this critically wounded trooper, PFC Moore was shot in the hip and rendered unconscious for a few minutes. Although his wounds incapacitated him and his position was exposed, he shouted instructions for vital treatment of the wounded. Knowing his death was imminent, PFC Moore ignored his pain and continued to give valuable medical instructions. PFC Moore succumbed to his wounds before he could be medically evacuated, but not before he had saved the lives of many of his comrades. PFC Moore's selfless actions and extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
Purple Heart
Air Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Medical Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private First Class Charles Thomas Moore (ASN: 487561838), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving as a Medical Aidman with Company D, 2d Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On 5 January 1970, when the First Platoon of Company D made contact with a determined enemy force located in a well-fortified bunker complex, a friendly trooper to the front was severely wounded. Despite his own wrist wounds, Private Moore, medical aidman for the First Platoon, moved through the intense hail of enemy fire to treat and evacuate the wounded soldier. Subsequently, a rocket impacted which strafed the area with shrapnel, wounding the First Platoon leader and further injuring Private Moore. Again with complete disregard for his own welfare, Private Moore moved to the aid of his platoon leader and evacuated the officer to safety. Then, noticing that his first patient had stopped breathing, Private Moore untiringly, and singularly performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until life and unassisted breathing were restored. As he was constructing a bamboo stretcher on which to carry this critically wounded trooper, Private Moore was shot in the hip and rendered unconscious. Minutes later, he regained consciousness, and although his many wounds now completely incapacitated his movement and his position was exposed, he began shouting valuable instructions concerning the necessary and vital treatment for the wounded. Even when he knew that death was imminent, Private Moore unselfishly ignored his pain and continued to give valuable medical instructions. Private Moore succumbed to his wounds before he could be medically evacuated, but not before he had saved the lives of many of his comrades through his conspicuous gallantry and extraordinary heroism. Private Moore's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Department of the Army, General Orders No. 5 (February 25, 1971)

Honors

The name Charles T Moore is located on Panel 15W Line 130 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Private First Class Charles Thomas Moore is buried at Edinburg Baptist Church Cemetery in Scotland County, MO.

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