General Moore was born in Waco, Texas in 1920. He began his military career by enlisting in the Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet.

He flew 100 combat missions during WWII and the Korean War, including the daring raids on the Ploiesti oil refineries in Romania during 1943. 

He began his airlift career as commander of the 314th Troop Carrier Wing in Tennessee.  During his tenure he developed many of the aerial delivery and combat tactics, techniques and procedures still in use today.

In 1966, Moore was assigned to Vietnam to organize the airlift effort in support of the Southeast Asia Conflict. Moore has the responsibility for all tactical airlifts in Vietnam and, while under his command the airfield developed the highest traffic density in the world and cargo throughout expanded nearly five times. During Vietnam he flew more than 140 combat airlift missions. 

He served as commander of Military Airlift Command’s 22nd Air Force in California (1970); command of the 13th Air force in the Philippines, known as the Jungle Force (1972); chief of staff, Pacific Command (1973); and Commander-in-Chief, Military Airlift Command (1977).

His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Silver Star, Legion of Merit (4 Oak Leaf Clusters), Distinguished Flying Cross (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Air Medal (9 Oak Leaf Clusters); Joint Service Commendation Medal and others.

He retired from the Air Force in 1979. He died March 18, 2012.