Army Cpl. Gary L. Moore

Died March 16, 2009 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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25, of Del City, Okla.; assigned to the 978th Military Police Company, 93rd Military Police Battalion, Fort Bliss, Texas; died March 16 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an explosive device struck his vehicle.

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Del City soldier killed in Iraq

The Associated Press

DEL CITY, Okla. — Military officials say a soldier from Del City has been killed in Iraq.

Officials announced Wednesday that 25-year-old Cpl. 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.

Fort Bliss officials say Moore’s awards include the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, and the Purple Heart, which was awarded posthumously.

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Friend describes fallen soldier

Tulsa (Okla.) World

TULSA, Okla. — A friend of a Del City soldier killed in Iraq described him as a religious young man who loved knowing that he was defending his country.

Cpl. Gary L. Moore, 25, of Del City died March 16 when a roadside bomb blew up his vehicle in Baghdad, according to the military.

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

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 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 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.

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

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.”

“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.

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Fiancée: Moore ‘loved life’

Tulsa (Okla.) World

OKLAHOMA CITY — The fiancée of a soldier from Del City who died in Iraq said she spoke to him using a Webcam just days before he died.

One of the subjects Randi Ivie and Army Cpl. 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.

Moore, 25, died March 16 when a roadside bomb blew up his vehicle in Baghdad, according to the military. The military police officer was assigned to the 978th Military Police Company, 93rd Military Police Battalion at Fort Bliss, Texas.

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.”

Moore would continually make comments while watching a movie, she said, and loved food, “especially Italian food.”

Before heading to Fort Bliss, Moore had been at Fort Leonard Wood, southwest of Rolla, Mo. He and his company were deployed to Iraq in June 2008 to help provide training and oversight of the Iraqi police force.

Ivie said funeral arrangements for Moore still are pending but that the service likely would be held at Southwest Baptist Church.

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Funeral held for Del City soldier killed in Iraq

The Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — A Del City soldier who died last week in Iraq was recalled Tuesday by those at the church he attended as a hero and a committed Christian.

Hundreds gathered for the funeral for Cpl. Gary Moore at Southwest Baptist Church. The 25-year-old died March 16 when a roadside bomb blew up his vehicle in Baghdad.

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.”

Moore was a 2003 graduate of Westmoore High School who joined the military in January 2007. He was assigned to the 978th Military Police Company, 93rd Military Police Battalion at Fort Bliss, Texas.

Brig. Gen. David Phillips, the chief of the military police corps, praised members of that unit for their service and accomplishments in Iraq. He said people in Baghdad are beginning to experience normal lives again because of the work of Moore and others.

“This past fall, when the elementary schools reopened, young girls were able to go to school,” Phillips said.

Moore was engaged to be married later this year to Randi Ivie.

“I can’t think of Gary without thinking of Randi,” said Jason Gaddis, one of the church’s ministers. “It was during a college and career activity in 2003 that they met and became basically inseparable.”