Tulsa World: Del City soldier loved serving his country, God

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Del City soldier loved serving his country, God

KILLED
Cpl. Gary L. Moore: He died Monday when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb.

By MANNY GAMALLO World Staff Writer
Published: 3/20/2009 2:23 AM
Last Modified: 3/20/2009 3:02 AM

Heroes of Oklahoma: View a memorial to the Oklahomans who have died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A soldier from Oklahoma who was killed this week in Iraq was described Thursday as a very religious young man who loved knowing that he was defending his country.

Cpl. Gary L. Moore, 25, of Del City died Monday when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Baghdad, according to the military.

Moore, a military police officer, was assigned to the 978th Military Police Company, 93rd Military Police Battalion at Fort Bliss, Texas.

Moore's death comes as the United States caps its sixth year in the war in Iraq. The Iraq war began on March 20, 2003.

Figures from an Associated Press tally show that 73 soldiers from Oklahoma have been killed serving in Iraq, including Moore.

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.

"He was a friendly soul, and he had tons of friends," she said.

Moore "loved the military, loved being a MP, and he loved knowing he was protecting our country," she said.

Moore entered the Army at Oklahoma City in January 2007.

He and the rest of his Fort Bliss outfit deployed to Iraq in June to provide training and oversight of Iraqi police.

Rudd said she last talked to Moore a week ago on Thursday, and "he said he couldn't wait to come home."

"He didn't know when exactly he would be returning," she said, but one thing was for certain, 'We're going to hit up the Olive Garden,' " Rudd quoted him as saying.

"The Olive Garden was one of his favorite places to eat," she said. "He loved to eat. He'd eat leftovers."

But food wasn't Moore's only passion, Rudd said.

"He loved football, he loved playing volleyball, and he was always talking of his fiancee," she said.

At the Southwest Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, a spokeswoman said Moore and his fiancee were planning a marriage ceremony there this summer.

Rudd said Moore's family lives in Del City. The family could not be reached for comment.

She said he had two brothers — one younger and one older. Moore reportedly also had a sister.

Rudd was shocked and stunned when she heard the news that Moore had been killed, she said.

"It hit me hard, especially since I had just talked to him on Thursday," she said.

"I've done my fair share of crying since then," Rudd said.

"He was just one amazing person," she said, her voice cracking with emotion.

Before heading to Fort Bliss, Moore had been at Fort Leonard Wood, southwest of Rolla, Mo.

Moore was just promoted from specialist to corporal in January, Fort Bliss officials said.

He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. His other awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.

There is no word yet on funeral arrangements.

Fort Bliss is planning a special ceremony in Moore's honor.

Manny Gamallo 581-8386
manny.gamallo@tulsaworld.com By MANNY GAMALLO World Staff Writer

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Damajah, Lawrence (3/20/2009 4:51:12 PM)

The guerilla strategy is to kill or seriously injure an American soldier every 24 hours.

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