Patrick Moore was a graduate of City High School in Iowa City, Iowa. Shortly after graduation on July 15, 1969, Moore was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to Ft. Polk, Louisiana for basic training. After basic, Moore completed his advanced individual training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, as a BB40, Artillery Crewman. Moore was then assigned to the prestigious 101st Airborne Division, A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 320th Artillery. On November 19, 1969, Moore and his artillery unit were sent to Vietnam.
Moore landed in Phu Bai and attended Vietnam training at Bien Hoa. Moore was assigned to a squad on a M102 Howitzer, a lightweight artillery gun that could be transported by helicopter or dropped into the field by airborne units with a parachute. While preparing for combat at Vietnam training, he was promoted to Corporal and oversaw his own M102 Howitzer and squad.
Immediately after Vietnam training, Moore’s unit was sent into combat. They provided artillery support to many fire bases including Bastone, Hue, and Hill 882. During this time, Moore was promoted to Recon Sergeant and was attached to Infantry B Company I-327, 82nd Airborne. During the last four months of his deployment, he was in the jungle calling in artillery and air strikes close to North Vietnam, Cambodia and the A Shau Valley.
Moore returned to the U.S. and spent six months at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, with C Battery 4/73rd Artillery. For his service he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM), National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Bronze Star. He was inducted on the Veterans Trail at Coralville Lake in 2006.
After being honorably discharged, Moore married Catherine Ipsen on December 19, 1970. Together they had three children and nine grandchildren. He was a member of the American Legion Post 17 in Iowa City and of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Wisconsin Chapter. Moore passed away November 17, 2016.