SAN ANTONIO, TX, US
U.S. Army
MAJ, HHC, 1ST BATTALION, 25TH INFANTRY DIVISION, FORT LEWIS, WA 98433
11/9/2004, MOSUL, IRAQ
The Army and the Air Force came together to grieve the loss of two men who served together and died together in Iraq. Army Major Gary Moore and Air Force Master Sergeant Steven Auchman were remembered as men who were proud of serving their country, and chose to be in Iraq.
“Major Moore was the kind of leader any soldier would follow,” said Army Master Sergeant Cheryl Staffa. “The kind of leader who didn’t just read the one-minute manager, he actually put his principals in practice. He always had a word of praise for soldiers who had done things correctly and a smile or a joke when anyone needed cheering up.”
Mrs. Moore explained that “Gary loves his family, he was a good guy… a dedicated father, a dedicated soldier.”
And she described her husband as a career soldier whose 16 years of service started right after high school and was interrupted only while he pursued a college degree.
“He was one of those patriotic individuals who loved serving his country,” she said.
Moore was born to a military family in Berlin, Germany and was raised in Oklahoma. He met his wife while at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. When he was home, he loved to spend time with her and their 2-year-old daughter, she said. He also loved to work on his old trucks. She said they last spoke Sunday night, when he called to wish her a happy 34th birthday.
“It was 3 AM over there, but he stayed up all that night to make sure he could call at a decent time,” she said. “He was a dedicated father and husband, a positive individual.”
U.S. Representative Solomon P Ortiz from Texas spoke about MAJ Moore in Congress on December 20, 2004:
“Soldiers who knew and served with Major Moore spoke candidly about the human side of this tough soldier. He was known for his kind and caring manner, and his absolute love of Raquel and their 2-year old daughter, Sophia…remember this great patriot, his great sacrifice, and the family he leaves behind in South Texas.”