On the evening of Sept. 3, 2021, Alvin Jerry "AJ" Moore passed away from natural causes peacefully and quietly in his sleep with family at his side. In the days preceding his passing he was surrounded by family and friends comforting him and showering him with love and respect.
He was born March 19, 1932 in Sylva, North Carolina.
In his 21-year United States Army career he achieved the following awards: Army Commendation Medals with V device, Purple Heart Medal with Three Oak Clusters, Korean Service Medal with Eight Bronze Battle Stars, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, American Expeditionary Forces Citation, Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Battle Star, Combat Infantry Badge with Star, United Nations Service Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation with Two Stars, Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge, Expert Marksman; M1 Rifle, Carbine Rifle, Browning automatic rifle, and Pistol(s), and the National Defense Service Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters.
He served in the following units: K Company 7th Cavalry 1st Cavalry Division, A Company 279th Infantry, 3rd Battalion 12th Infantry, Advisory Group 7Th Infantry, 2nd Infantry Battalion, 28th Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, and the 4th Army Marksmanship Training Unit. He then retired in 1971 as a Sergeant First Class at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
He amassed the following awards for shooting: NRA Member of the 2600 club (74th member) and 2650 club (42nd member), Ranked No. 4 in the United States as a pistol shooter in 1962, and held 21 National Records for Pistol Shooting, one of which still stands.
After his Army career he held these other professions: 1971-1973 Bexar County Texas deputy sheriff, 1973-1975 United States Postal Service letter carrier, 1975-1978 Franklin, North Carolina police officer.
In 1978 he earned an associate's degree in Applied Science in Law Enforcement from Southwestern Technical Institute in Sylva, North Carolina, 1979-1982 Burns Security Corpus Christi, Texas, 1983-1986 Corpus Christi Army Depot Helicopter Maintenance, after which he retired and moved to Tiger.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Bessie and Jess Moore; four brothers, Clyde, Clarence, Glenn and Jimmie; and his sister, Marthalene. His wife, Loretta Moore passed away in April of 2011. He is survived by his six children; 12 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two brothers; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral plans are pending but the ashes of SFC. Alvin J. Moore will be interned at the National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia with full military honors.
In lieu of flowers please make donations in his name to St. Jude for Children or Hillsdale College, Hillsdale Michigan.