Air Force Lt. Col. Joseph A. Moore

Died May 20, 2008 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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54, of Boise, Idaho; assigned to the 124th Wing, Idaho Air National Guard, Gowen Field, Idaho; died May 20 in Djibouti of natural causes.

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Idaho chaplain dies in Djibouti

By Patrick Winn

Staff writer

A high-ranking Air Force chaplain died of natural causes May 20 in Djibouti, where he was serving a tour ministering to Operation Enduring Freedom troops.

Lt. Col. Joseph A. Moore, 54 — known as “Art” — served full-time as chaplain for the Idaho Air and Army National Guard . Moore was a 19-year Guard veteran and Boise resident currently assigned to the Idaho Air National Guard’s 124th Wing. He leaves behind two parents, a wife and a daughter, according to Lt. Col. Tim Marsano, an Air National Guard spokesman.

“He loved his family, loved his career, loved Idaho and anybody who knew Art also knew he loved fishing,” Moore’s family said in a statement. “Being a minister to service members was dear to his heart and he was available to help anybody at any time.”

The Air Force’s incoming Chief of Chaplains, Cecil Richardson, a major general select, was slated to arrive Wednesday at Delaware’s Dover Air Force Base, where Moore’s remains are expected to arrive.

Moore was serving a seven-month tour in Djibouti, home of Camp Lemonier and Operation Enduring Freedom — Horn of Africa.

Idaho’s adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Larry Lafrenz, credited Moore with offering “spiritual and moral guidance, common sense and friendship” to Idaho guardsmen. “He was always there for us when we needed him and we will miss him more than words can express.”

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Air Force Lt. Col. Joseph A. Moore remembered

The Associated Press

Joseph A. Moore’s job as full-time chaplain was to counsel any soldier or airman with the Idaho National Guard who needed help or guidance, regardless of denomination — a job he relished.

“Art was an outstanding human being,” said Lt. Col. Tim Marsano. “He was our ‘go-to guy’ when a soldier needed help. He was very kind, discreet, caring, lighthearted and fun-loving.”

Moore, 54, of Boise, Idaho, died May 20 of natural causes in Djibouti. He was assigned to Gowen Field, Idaho.

Marsano said Moore’s official denomination was the Southern Baptist Convention faith, but it didn’t matter what belief system an airman or soldier had because Moore was always there to help.

“I never thought of him as being any specific denomination,” Marsano said. “He was the guy you sought out if a buddy needed help.”

He is survived by his wife, Sandra, and daughters Rachel Croft and Christina Moore.

“He enjoyed life, and his family always came first. He loved his family, loved his career, loved Idaho, and anybody who knew Art also knew he also loved fishing. We loved Art and we will miss him,” a family statement said.