DEL CITY, OK, USA U.S. Army CPL, 978TH MILITARY POLICE COMPANY, 716TH MP BN, FORT BLISS, TX BAGHDAD, IRAQ 03/16/2009
Officials announced Wednesday that 25-year-old Corporal Gary L. Moore died Monday when a bomb hit his vehicle in Baghdad. Moore was assigned to the 978th Military Police Company, 93rd Military Police Battalion in Fort Bliss, Texas.
Officials at Fort Bliss say Moore was a military policeman who joined the Army in January 2007 and was appointed to the rank of corporal in January. Moore was previously stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and deployed to Iraq with his company in June 2008 to help provide training and oversight of the Iraqi police force.
A friend of Gary described him as a religious young man who loved knowing that he was defending his country.
Amber Rudd of El Paso, Texas, said she first met Moore more than two years ago when he began attending Sunday school classes at the Hillcrest Baptist Church in El Paso, which is near Fort Bliss.
“He was an amazing guy,” the 22-year-old Rudd said. “He was always smiling, always there for everyone.
Moore “loved the military, loved being a MP, and he loved knowing he was protecting our country,” she said.
Rudd said she last talked to Moore last week, and “he said he couldn’t wait to come home.” Rudd said Moore loved playing football and volleyball and was engaged to be married. At the Southwest Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, a spokeswoman said Moore and his fiancée were planning a marriage ceremony there this summer. The church’s head pastor, Sam Davison, said everyone at Southwest Baptist took pride in Moore.
“Gary was 38 years younger than me, but he was one of my heroes,” Davison said. “I’m proud of the service that he rendered. I’m proud of his bravery. I’m proud of Gary.”
Randi Ivie, Moore’s fiancé, said she spoke to him using a Webcam just days before he died.
One of the subjects and Army Corporal Gary Lee Moore talked about during their hour-long conversation was their wedding, which was planned for later this year at Southwest Baptist Church, Ivie said. She said they ended by vowing their love to one another.
Ivie said Moore, a 2003 graduate of Westmoore High School who ran track and cross country, enjoyed serving his country and police work. She said he had worked as a security guard at Quail Springs Mall in Oklahoma City before joining the military in January 2007.
“He loved life,” she said. “He wasn’t a stranger to anyone. He always had a good smile and a strong handshake.”
Among his other traits, she said, Moore was blunt “without being rude, so everyone always knew what was on his mind.” She also said he “had a deep love for the Lord.”
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