HOO-AH: 5th SFG Soldiers Honor ‘Green Berets’ Novelist

5th SFG Soldiers Honor
‘Green Berets’ Novelist

By: Sgt. 1st Class Jason B. Baker
U.S. Army Special Operations Command

HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. (USASOC News Service, Mar. 3, 2008) – Soldiers from 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) honored Robin Lowell Moore, the author of “The Green Berets,” during his funeral service March 1, 2008.

The modest service took place in the historic Grace Episcopal Church, of which Moore was a member. Several hundred attended the funeral, the majority being former and current Green Berets.

The 82-year-old Moore, a novelist, World War II veteran and Special Forces advocate, died February 21 after a long battle with cancer.

Being a Harvard graduate, and partial heir to the Sheraton Hotel chain, gave Moore the ability to travel the world and have a variety of experiences. Of all his experiences in life, it was his time spent working on “The Green Berets” that had the most meaning and impact on his life.

“It meant everything to him,” said his widow Helen Moore of his time spent with the Special Forces. “He felt tremendously honored that he was allowed to go through the course that he was allowed to go to jump school that he was allowed to wear the beret as a civilian. He always used to say meeting general Yarborough, going through the training and writing the book made him a man. Before that he always used to say he was a playboy, a hard working playboy but, it’s the Green Berets that made him a man.”

When starting work on “The Green Berets,” Moore was introduced to Lt. Gen. William Yarborough, who told him if he was to do this book he would have to go through the Special Forces Qualification Course and then to Viet Nam. Moore accepted the challenge and by doing so earned the respect of the SF Soldiers.

“After Robin had been with us about a week, I said we are going out on an operation tomorrow and we will be leaving about 0300,” said retired Maj. Gen. Victor Hugo Jr. the detachment commander featured in the novel. “If you would like to leave with us you can but here are the ground rules: you take with you whatever you want and that is all you got; no one will carry anything for you; you go out and you don’t come back in until all of us come back unless you need a MEDIVAC. Those are the conditions would you like to go? To my surprise he said yes.”

Hugo then lifted a copy of the original of “The Green Berets” and pointed to a picture on the back cover of Robin just after a successful ambush during the operation. He continued stating Moore’s bravery was one the qualities he remembered most about his friend.

The respect and admiration, for this honorary member of the 5th Special Forces Group, is still evident in today’s Green Beret.

“I had an opportunity to spend some time and talk to Robin,” said Maj. Gen. Thomas Csrnko, commander, Special Forces Command. “He was an absolutely amazing man. If you read all of his bio, I would say he lived a full life. It is quite an accomplishment that he has given back so much to the Special Forces community as well as the nation.”

To end the service, full military honors were given ending with the playing of “The Ballad of the Green Beret,” the song he co-wrote with Barry Sadler that is now the theme song for all those who earn the right to don the honored headgear.

Moore will be buried in a cemetery near his home town of Concord, Mass. later this spring.

--De Oppresso Liber--

--sine pari--

"Your Mind is Your Best Weapon"
-- Dedicated to the "Quiet Professionals"

Maj. Gen. Thomas Csrnko, commander, Special Forces Command speaks during a memorial service for Novelist Robin Lowell Moore at the Grace Episcopal Church in Hopkinsville, Ky. March 1, 2008. (photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jason B. Baker, USASOC PAO)

Lt. Gen. William Yarborough and Robin Moore's berets rest on Moore's casket during a memorial service for the Novelist at the Grace Episcopal Church in Hopkinsville, Ky. March 1, 2008. (photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jason B. Baker, USASOC PAO)

HOO-AH: 'The Green Berets' author Moore dies