George F. Moore (general)


George Fleming Moore was a highly decorated officer of the United States Army with the rank of major general. General Moore commanded the Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays and the Philippine Coast Artillery during the Battle of Bataan.

Early life and education

George Fleming Moore was born on July 31, 1887 in Austin, Texas as the son of John Marks Moore, Jr. and Mary Estelle Grace Moore. He graduated from A&M College of Texas in 1908 and received a commission in 1909 into the Coast Artillery Corps.

Texas A&M

A major and lieutenant colonel during World War I, he returned to Texas A&M as Commandant of Cadets from 1937–1940, where he was promoted to colonel.

World War II

In World War II, then Brigadier General Moore fought in the Bataan Campaign, later becoming the commander of the Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays in the Philippines, both during the 1941–42 Japanese invasion. He was given command of the Philippine Coast Artillery with roughly 5,000 men and four forts to defend Corregidor. On May 6, 1942, General Jonathan Wainwright surrendered the Corregidor garrison at about 1:30 p.m., leading himself and General Moore to be captured by the Japanese, and held as a POW, later liberated in August 1945. General Moore was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Distinguished Service Medal while in captivity.

Family

He was married to Lucile Griffith, daughter of John Williams Griffith and Mary Elizabeth of Port Townsend, WA. They had one daughter, Anne.

Death

Moore never recovered his health from captivity; he shot himself on December 2, 1949, shortly after retirement, in Hillsborough, CA. The Moores are buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, California.

Awards and honors

Moore received some of the Army´s highest decorations including the Distinguished Service Cross and the Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.
Moore Hall, a residence hall at Texas A&M University, is named in his honor.

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