Specialist 4 Billy Moore Jr. served in the Vietnam War. CONTRIBUTED

Veteran of the Week

MADISON – A native of Madison County, Specialist 4 Billy Moore Jr. grew up on his family’s farm just north of Madison. After high school in 1968, he entered the U.S. Army in Huntsville as an infantryman.

Moore completed Basic Combat Training at Fort Benning, Ga. and then was sent to Fort Ord, Calif. for advanced individual training. He deployed to Vietnam and was assigned to D Company, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry (Regiment), 25th Infantry Division (Tropic Lightning).

D Company was headquartered in Chu Chi, Vietnam. He served as an Infantry Machine Gunner in his rifle company and carried an M-60 machinegun.

Completing his tour in Vietnam, Moore was assigned to a Mechanized Infantry Battalion in the 1st Armored Division at Fort Hood, Texas. He exited from the Army in 1970 as a Specialist 4 to return to Huntsville and marry, start a family and work as a police officer.

His father, Billy Moore Sr., is a veteran of World War II and served as an Army artilleryman in the European Theater of Operations.

While serving as a police officer, Moore earned an associate’s degree in police science. For 20 years, he was heavily involved with the Police K-9 unit and became the head trainer. This experience led to his certification as a national judge for K-9 competitions and his membership in the U.S. Police K-9 Association.

After 30-plus years in Huntsville Police Department, Billy Moore Jr. retired in 2001. His wife Lonia is a Huntsville resident. She retired from civil service at NASA after 38 years.

The Moores have two children. Rachel Burke is an engineering graduate of the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Travis Moore is a firefighter for the City of Huntsville. Billy and Lonia’s grandchildren, Kadence and Issac, enjoy visits to their home.

Billy Moore Jr. is a member of Fraternal Order of Police. His hobbies are training police dogs, fishing, hunting and playing with his grandkids.