Maj. Larry Moores (Ret.) joined the Army at 18 years old and was assigned to 1st Ranger Battalion where he soon got his first taste of combat during the 1983 invasion of Grenada. After graduating from Ranger School, he continued to serve in Ranger assignments until he was deployed as a part of Task Force Ranger to Somalia in 1993.
Sent to apprehend warlords like Mohammed Farah Aidid, Task Force Ranger included elements of 160th Special Operations Aviation and Delta Force.
"When I was in Somalia as part of Task Force Ranger, it was my third tour with the unit, so I understood their capabilities and how prepared we were to execute the mission," Moores explained. "We conducted a series of missions before that, so we knew the environment and the threat. Knowing how well trained your people were and the mission made it easier to lead."
The subsequent battle that ensued during an operation carried out on Oct. 3, 1993 is known to the public today by the title of the book and movie made about those events called, "Black Hawk Down." The actual name of the operation was Gothic Serpent.
Under intense gunfire, "it was amazing to watch the young Rangers still execute under very difficult circumstances," Moores said.
This month, Maj. Moores was attended a ceremony where his long over due Silver Star was awarded for his actions taken over thirty years ago.
Fellow Ranger Platoon Leader, Col. Larry Perino (ret.) recalled Moores's actions during the event.
"Larry is deserving because he chose to go back to that street to try and break us out. Despite going out there and getting riddled with bullets time and time again and losing Rangers, he had the intestinal fortitude to lead his men to help us," Perino said.