Elmer O. Moore
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Elmer O. Moore served in World War II in the European Theater. He fought in North Africa and in Italy.
Mr. Moore joined the Minnesota Army National Guard on July 28, 1940. He served with the A Battery, 125th Field Artillery, 34th Infantry Division (“Red Bull Division”). His unit was activated on February 10, 1941. Once the United States entered the war, his unit served in Tunisia, North Africa, and in Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno and North Apennines, Italy. He was part of the American 34th Division, to which the German 34th Division surrendered on May 1, 1945.
"'When the German 34th infantry division wanted to surrender, we had to go on a forced march to their position to accept it because they wouldn’t surrender to anyone else,’ Moore said. ‘They fought us before across North Africa and must have thought we were worthy opponents.’” [from The Sun, May 8, 2006)
He was discharged on September 1, 1945, but continued to serve in the Reserves. He served for a total of 30 years. His rank was Master Sergeant.
Mr. Moore was decorated with the: Soldier's Medal, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle East CampaignService Medal with four bronze battle stars, American Defense Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal and six overseas service bars.
He was born in Wrenshall, Minnesota, on March 1, 1920, the son of William and Sophia (Trostad) Moore. He attended school in Duluth, Minnesota.
Mr. Moore died at age 88 on December 15, 2008, in Yuma, Arizona.
Source: original entry on the Veterans’ Memorial Hall website (below); “Yuma Veterans Recall Ending of World War II,” The Sun, May 8, 2006; Duluth News Tribune, December 21, 2008
“'Elmer O. Moore of Duluth was enlisted in the Army National Guard on July 28, 1940. He was a sergeant and a gun mechanic with Battery A in the 328th Field Artillery Battalion. His unit was federalized on February 10, 1941 and with the 34th Infantry Division he served in Tunisia, North Africa; Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno and North Apennines, Italy.
"'Sergeant Moore, with utter disregard for his own safety, drove two trucks loaded with valuable radio equipment out of a [burning] alleyway into safety and then returned to combat the spread of the fire until he was physically overcome by fumes and smoke.
"’The courage and outstanding devotion to duty of Sergeant Moore in the face of grave danger was exemplary and a credit to the Armed Forces of the United States. . . .’
“He received the Soldier's Medal, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle East Campaign Service Medal with four bronze battle stars, American Defense Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal and six overseas service bars.”
