Lieutenant General Harold G. Moore, Ret, USA

The purpose of this research paper is to demonstrate the effectiveness of the United States Army's combat leader force development program, using Lieutenant General, retired, Harold G. Moore as the case study during his command of 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, in the Ia Drang Valley in Vietnam. The paper first defines battle command, according to Army doctrine, and according to Hal Moore. The methodology then examines Army leadership doctrine and presents the philosophy and methodology by which the Army grooms and develops its leaders for combat. Next, the paper examines details pertaining to Hal Moore, including his military academy education, his formal officer education, his assignments and experiences, and his combat experience, to determine how his individual leadership capability and style developed. Finally, the paper describes Hal Moore's battle command leadership, primarily using excerpts from his book, and material from an interview by the author, as examples. The paper finds the Army's combat leader force development philosophy and methodology effective. Moreover, the author determines that Hal Moore is an exceptional practitioner of battle command, and may be considered one of the great Captains of leadership