Early Life in Oneida, Kansas
George Stephen Moore was born on May 2, 1917, in Oneida, Kansas, to Fred and Mrs. Moore. He grew up in the quiet, rural town of Oneida and attended the local schools. Known for his good nature and strong character, George was a beloved member of his community. He maintained close ties to both his hometown and nearby Sabetha, where he had many friends.
Entering Military Service Before Pearl Harbor
George entered the U.S. Army in September 1941, just a few months before the attack on Pearl Harbor officially drew the United States into World War II. He initially served with the Coast Artillery, beginning a military career that would span training camps, maneuvers, and eventually, combat duty overseas.
Military Police Duty and Maneuver Training
After basic training, George was transferred to Camp Haan and later to Camp Roberts, California. He served as a Military Policeman (MP) for 17 of his first 21 months in service, performing vital duties such as directing military traffic and handling prisoners of war during field exercises. While stationed at Camp Roberts, George wrote home about living in tents with dirt floors, longing for home on Mother’s Day, and the challenges of military life.
His letters home provided candid and vivid insights into his experiences. He shared how MP units were treated as combat support and often sent on multi-day missions, sleeping on the ground and eating field rations. His letters also revealed the dangers of training in the desert terrain of Southern California, where rattlesnakes posed a deadly threat to soldiers. George himself witnessed several fellow servicemen being bitten while sleeping—some fatally—despite receiving snakebite training.
Furlough and Service Pride
In July 1943, George returned to Oneida for a 15-day furlough, looking healthy and speaking proudly of his work. He had recently returned from maneuvers in the same harsh area where a platoon of infantrymen would later suffer tragic losses due to heat and exposure. During his visit, George explained the role of the MPs in combat: managing logistics, traffic, and prisoners—duties that mirrored real-world combat scenarios.
George’s deep connection to fellow soldiers was evident in his meticulous habit of saving published hometown service addresses. He hoped to reconnect with familiar faces if their paths crossed in the service. He returned to Camp Young, California, after his furlough, before eventually being transferred overseas.
Overseas Deployment and Infantry Assignment
In early summer 1944, George deployed to Europe, joining the 119th Infantry Regiment of the 80th Infantry Division, which was part of General George S. Patton’s Third Army. Though he had previously served with the Military Police, George requested combat duty, fully aware of the risks involved. His unit was involved in the fierce Lorraine Campaign in eastern France—an important Allied push against entrenched German forces.
Killed in Action at Delme Ridge
On November 10, 1944, George was reported missing in action during the battle for Delme Ridge in France. His parents received official confirmation of his death via telegram on December 7, 1944. The 319th Infantry, with which he served, was engaged in heavy fighting during that time. George was killed in combat, giving his life in service to his country.
Aftermath and Community Grief
Following the news of his death, George’s parents received letters from fellow soldiers, including Cpl. George W. Berridge, who reassured them that George had not suffered and was well liked by his unit. They also heard from Chaplain Troy Thomas Kely, who conducted a memorial service for George in Lorraine, France, and informed them of his temporary burial there.
A moving tribute from Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Hundley of Kansas City, whose son also died in the war, reminded the Moores that George’s sacrifice was shared by all Americans. These heartfelt messages provided some comfort during a time of profound grief.
Honors and Legacy
George was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, and the Combat Infantry Badge in recognition of his bravery and service. His mother received the Purple Heart on her birthday—an emotional and solemn moment for the family.
A memorial service was held on May 27, 1945, at Gilman Hall in Oneida, with participation from the American Legion and widespread community attendance. Later, in September 1948, George’s remains were brought home and reinterred with full military honors at the Oneida Cemetery, following services at the Popkess Funeral Home in Sabetha.
Remembering a Hometown Hero
George Stephen Moore’s journey from small-town Kansas to the battlefields of Europe reflects the bravery and sacrifice of an entire generation. His story was preserved through his own letters, the memories of those who served alongside him, and the deep sorrow and pride of his family and community.
He is remembered not only for the medals he earned but for the courage, humility, and humanity he carried throughout his service. His name remains etched in the memory of Oneida, a symbol of freedom and the price paid to preserve it.
SOURCES
The Sabetha Herald
2 Jun 1943
page 1
From Cpl. George S. Moore
Cpl. George S. Moore has been moved from Camp Haan to Camp Roberts, Calif (see addresses). He writes
I was sent up here to Camp Roberts to receive some more training and then to be sent to some other company. I hope that I go back into the Military Police. That is about all I have done since I have been in the army. I have been in nearly 21 months now and have had 17 months of Military Police, the rest in different training camps. This is a good sized camp but I still like Camp Haan better. We sleep in tents and have dirt floors. My brother and sister were home for Mother’s Day. I wish I could have been there, too. The army gets pretty discouraging at times, but I guess it will all turn out for the best.
At this camp we get a good night’s sleep, anyhow. We get a pass form Saturday noon until Monday morning, which is better than we got at Camp Haan. But this place is too far from any big towns. We are 250 miles form Lost Angeles and 120 from San Francisco. I hope Lt. Steibler keeps up his columns in the paper. I sure enjoyed it very much.
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The Sabetha Herald
28 Jul 1943
page 1
Men In the Service
Cpl. George Moore of Oneida, who is with an M P company in the Los Angeles area, came home Monday to spend a 15-day furlough. He is looking fine and enjoys his work. He recently returned form maneuvers, when he was on duty in the exact location where a platoon of infantry was lost the first of the week. The story in the Kansas City Times this Wednesday morning said three members of the platoon died, a fourth still is missing as a result of extremely high temperatures, exposure and lack of food and water. Cpl. Moore says the job of Military Police on maneuvers, and in combat, is to direct traffic and look after prisoners of war. These jobs are conducted on maneuvers the same as in actual combat, so that when overseas duty comes the M P will have experience in proper handling of prisoners. On maneuvers prisoners are taken and handled according to specified rules, of maneuver and umpiring. Cpl. Moore says on maneuvers a corporal is sent out with a squad of men with a definite mission of traffic direction or other duty. The squad may be away from its command post as much as a week at a time, during which the men sleep on the ground and eat boxed rations. Rattlesnakes are a serious menace in the desert country of southern California. Several boys were bitten by snakes while sleeping, thus were unable to receive emergency treatment. Death resulted in some cases. The men are trained in proper snake-bit treatment, which has proved successful when the soldier knows he has been bitten.
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The Sabetha Herald
11 Aug 1943
page 8
Cpl George Moore left Thursday for Camp Young, Calif., after spending a fifteen days furlough here with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. T. Moore.
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The Sabetha Herald
29 Nov 1944
page 1
S-Sgt. George Moore Missing
S-Sgt. George Moore, son of Mr. and Mrs Fred Moore of Oneida, is missing in action in France according to a telegram form the war department received by his parents Monday. Moore, a member of the infantry unit attached to General Patton’s Third Army, has been missing since November 10.
He entered the army in November of 1942. He received his basic training at Camp Haan, Calif. From there he moved to Camp Roberts, Calif., to a maneuver area with an APO in Los Angeles, Calif. and to San Bernardino, Calif before going overseas form New York City, N Y last summer.
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The Sabetha Herald
13 Dec 1944
Men in the Service
Sgt. George Moore Dies
In Combat in Europe
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Moore of Oneida received a telegram Thursday telling them that their son, Sgt. Geo. S Moore, was killed in action November 10. They had received a telegram November 27 telling them that their son, was missing in action. The daily newspapers told of the 319th Infantry taking Delme Ridge on November 10. George Moore was a member of that group. His unit was attached to Gen. Patton’s third army.
George entered the army in November 1942. He received his basic training at Camp Haan Calif. From there he was sent on maneuvers to Camp Roberts, Calif., was then sent tot he base at San Bernardino, Calif. and early in the summer was sent to the European theater.
George was reared at Oneida where he attended school. He frequently visited Sabetha and has a host of friends in these two communities, who are shocked and grieved at his passing.
He is survived by his parents, a brother, Clyde, who lives in California and a sister, Marjorie, who lives in Kansas City.
Herald readers will recall several letters and stories about George Moore prior to his going overseas. He wrote an interesting letter from San Bernardino in which he told of how he saved all published service addresses for future reference so he could look up home town soldiers if occasion arose. When he was home on furlough he told of sleeping with rattlesnakes while on desert maneuvers. Many have learned to know service men, as have those in this office, thru such accounts, and their loss is the more keenly felt.
Sgt. Moore was with a Military Police Battalion. when home on furlough in 1943 he told of directing combat traffic while on maneuvers, and of other duties in the performance of which in actual combat, no doubt, met his death.
With each casualty reported, this newspaper feels all should be reminded of how much lighter the home front tasks are regardless of their frequency or seeming difficulty, when compared with those in combat.
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Sabetha Herald
21 Feb 1945
page 1
Writes of Sgt. George Moore
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Moore of Oneida have received three letters relating to their son, S-Sgt. George Moore, who was killed in action in the European theater of Operations November 10, 1944. Sgt. Moore was with a military police unit with General Patton’s army and the action in which he met his death is believed to have been at Delme Ridge in Franc, though military censorship has forbidden definite confirmation of this. His unit was reported in combat at this point at that time.
Mr. and Mrs. Moore received a money order from a member of their son’s outfit, presumably the personnel department. there was no message, but Mrs. Moore wrote tot he soldier who sent the draft. They received a reply from another soldier Cpl George W Berridge, who says their letter was turned over to him. Cpl Berridge writes:
“I know it must be awful to lose a son over hear and not know what really happened to him. It is against censor’s rules to write about such things but I will try to answer some of your questions. you were right about the place that it happened. I am really at a loss about how to explain this to you so please bear with me. From all I could find out I am sure your son did not suffer. I hope you will feel better after that. I knew your son since he joined the company and he was well liked by everyone. He was really a swell fellow and everyone was sorry to hear that he had been killed. I don’t know much more that I can help you with. If I can help you in any other way, please don’t hesitate to write and ask.”
Another letter received by the Moores is from Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Hundley of Kansas City, who have made a practice of writing to the parents of all men killed in action since the death of their son, Lt. Wyatt F Hundley, Air Corps bombardier killed in action in New guinea January 7, 1943. The letter is a personal one, written in long hand, with a gold star and the printed notation “This tribute in homage and gratitude to a gallant hero, George Moore, who gave his life for us” Lt. Hundley’s picture is on another page, with a verse. Among other things, the letter from Mr and Mrs Hundley says
“you have laid a costly sacrifice upon the altar of Freedom, and while the grief is singularly your own, to do with as best you can, the loss is not yours alone, it is all America’s loss, it is mine, it is my next door neighbor’s. May I or an Free American, never prove unworthy of the great gift of life itself that George has given. Perhaps if we do not live in vain, he will not have died in vain.
Mr. and Mrs. Moore have also received a letter from their son’s chaplain, Troy Thomas Kely. He told them of the services for their son, and said that he was buried in the province of Lorraine, France.
Mrs. Moore received her son’s Purple Heart medal on her birthday last week.
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The Sabetha Herald
23 May 1945
page 1
Memorial for George Moore
Memorial services for S-Sgt. George S. Moore, who was killed in action in France November 10, 1944, will be held Memorial Sunday, May 27, at 2:30 p.m. at Gilman Hall in Oneida, Kas. The family requests not flowers. The American Legion will have an active part in the services.
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The Sabetha Herald
30 May 1945
page 4
Oneida
Relatives and friends here for the memorial service for S Sgt George Moore were Mr and Mrs William Ives and Denise, Mr and Mrs L. E. Stein, Omaha; Mrs A. A. Caraway, Mr and Mrs M. B. Caraway an Jean of Kansas City, Mr. and Mrs. E F. Battay and children, Mrs. Cora A Battey, Topeka, Mr. and Mrs. William Myels and Mrs J. E. Garner of Marysville.
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The Sabetha Herald
1 Ssep 1948
Page 2
Services Held Sunday for Sgt. George S. Moore
Services were held Sunday for Sgt. George Stephen Moore, son of Mr and Mrs F. G. Moore of Oneida. There was a service at the Popkess funeral home. Sabetha, and a graveside service at Oneida cemetery, with Oneida Legion and other service men taking part, and rendering full military honors. The Rev. S. B. Parker, Seneca, was chaplain and D. Edward Taylor, Louis V. Slocum, Walter Scott and Dr. C. M. Barnes sang.
George Stephen Moore was born at Oneida, Kansas, May 2, 1917 and lived there all his life until entering service. He entered the army in September, 941, before Pearl Harbor. He first served with the Coast Artillery and then with the military police, until he requested foreign service. He was then placed in the infantry and was sent to France in June of 1944. He was killed in action Nov. 10, 1944 at Delme Ridge in France. He was with the 119th infantry of the 80th Division, which was a part of General Patton’s army. He was buried in the U.S. Military cemetery at Limey, France, until he was brought home. Sgt. Moore had earned the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantry badge.