James E. Moore

Private First Class James E. Moore was killed in a motor vehicle accident in Germany on May 30, 1945 while on active duty during World War II.  He was 20 years old.

James E. Moore was born on June 18, 1924 in Guilford County, North Carolina, the son of Troy L. Moore and Claudia D. Moore. The family had moved to Henderson, North Carolina by 1930 and lived in the North Henderson cotton mill district.

PFC Moore was inducted into the U.S. Army on February 8, 1943.  He was deployed to the European Theater of War in October, 1944 serving with the 309th Infantry Regiment. 

The 309th Infantry Regiment, part of the 78th "Lightning" Infantry Division, crossed to France on November 22, 1944 and moved to Tongeren, Belgium, on November 27, 1944, and to Roetgen, Germany, on December 7, 1944, to prepare for combat. The 309th and 310th Infantry Regiments were fighting for Kesternich when the Battle of the Bulge began in late December.

The 78th held the area it had taken from the Siegfried Line against German attacks throughout the winter. The Division joined the offensive of the First and Ninth Armies toward the Rhine in February 1945, crossing over the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen on March 8.  The 78th expanded the bridgehead, taking Honnef and cutting part of the Autobahn on March 16. From April 2 to May 8, 1945 the division was active in the reduction of the Ruhr Pocket and at VE-day (May 8, 1945) was stationed near Marburg, Germany, north of Frankfurt. Private First Class James E. Moore was killed in a motor vehicle accident on May 30, 1945.

Private First Class James E. Moore is buried in Carey’s Chapel Cemetery, Vance County, North Carolina.

Last edited: 31 May 2026