Bryant Moore

Major General Bryant Edward Moore (June 6, 1894 – February 24, 1951) was a United States Army officer who commanded the 8th Infantry Division during and after World War II, and the IX Corps in the Korean War.

Biography Early life and military career Moore was born in Ellsworth, Maine, on June 6, 1894, to Nettie Haley Moore and Edward Grafton Moore. He had three siblings: John Leroy Moore, Margaret Moore Coolidge and James Moore. His father ran and then later owned Moore's Pharmacy on the corner of Water Street and Main Street in Ellsworth. The family home was on State Street, located on the hill across from the First Congregational Church. He graduated from Ellsworth High School and was educated at the Sorbonne in Paris, France, and at the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York, where he graduated in August 1917.

Moore was fluent in French and served as an instructor in the Department of Modern Languages at the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York, from 1925 to 1929. He graduated from the Infantry School Commanding Officers' Course in 1930 and the Command and General Staff School in 1939.

World War II In the early days of World War II, Colonel Moore commanded the 164th Infantry Regiment on Guadalcanal. After promotion to the general officer rank of brigadier general, he later fought with the 104th Infantry Division as the assistant division commander (ADC). The 104th was commanded by Major General Terry Allen. He was later promoted again and commanded the 8th Infantry Division in Europe. Under his command, the division liberated the Neuengamme concentration camp. In late 1945 he commanded the 88th Infantry Division in Austria until it was inactivated in 1947.

Postwar In the immediate post-war period, he commanded the occupation of Yugoslavia, holding Trieste, successfully keeping out Tito's troops. His wartime promotion to major general was made permanent on January 27, 1949. From 1949 until 1951, Moore was superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point. It was during these operations that Moore's helicopter crashed into the Han River near Yeoju. He died a few hours later from an apparent heart attack after having gotten help for the surviving pilot and crew, on February 24, 1951.

Bryant Moore married the former Margaret "Peggy" King, also from Ellsworth, and they had two daughters, Margaret and Barbara.

Moore was well known for his diplomatic abilities as well as being fluent in French and an expert in military strategy and military science.