Silver Star Ceremony: Celebrating the Courage of Army Ranger Major Larry Moores in Somalia

Thirty Years in the Making

Over thirty years after his courageous deeds during the notorious Battle of Mogadishu, the military recently honored retired Army Major Larry Moores with the Silver Star. This prestigious award, ranking third in the hierarchy of U.S. military commendations for bravery, was presented to Moores on March 25. It recognizes his courageous actions as a young Army Ranger from the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. Moores’s efforts included assisting numerous fellow Rangers who were pinned down by enemy fire.

During the medal presentation ceremony, General Gary Brito, the leader of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, lauded Moores’s resilience and dedication.

“Mr. Moores, your unwavering resolve and dedication to your fellow soldiers epitomize the spirit of the Ranger Creed. Your heroic acts in Somalia were a testament to your solidarity with your brothers in arms,” Gen. Brito said.

The Battle of Mogadishu

The Battle of Mogadishu, which took place from October 3 to October 4, 1993, was later popularized by the 2001 film “Black Hawk Down.” This confrontation involved U.S. forces, including Moores, as part of Task Force Ranger against Somali militia fighters. The mission’s initial objective was to detain two lieutenants of the Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid, but it escalated dramatically upon the downing of two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters.

Retired Army Colonel Larry Perino, who fought alongside Moores as a platoon leader during the conflict, highlighted Moores’s instrumental role in the survival of many soldiers.

Col. Perino remarked during the ceremony:

“Larry merited this honor because he decided to return to the fray, leading his men to break the siege despite facing relentless enemy fire.” 

Reflecting on the battle, Moores recounted the severe casualties suffered, including 18 soldiers killed and over 70 wounded. “Facing overwhelming odds, it was extraordinary to witness the young Rangers maintain their composure and execute their duties under extremely challenging conditions,” Moores shared.

In recognition of his bravery, Moores was previously honored as a distinguished member of the 75th Ranger Regiment in 2005 and was inducted into the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame in 2017. Additionally, in 2021, the Army revised 60 awards for those wounded or killed during the battle, awarding 58 Silver Stars and two Distinguished Flying Crosses for bravery.

The Medal of Honor was posthumously awarded to Delta Force members Sgt. 1st Class Randall Shughart and Master Sgt. Gary Gordon for their attempt to safeguard downed Black Hawk pilot Chief Warrant Officer Michael Durant from encircling Somali forces.

A Sustained Presence

Despite the decades since the battle, the U.S. continues to engage in Somalia. A reevaluation of U.S. military involvement occurred between 2019 and 2021, with a subsequent admission by Gen. Stephen Townsend, then-commander of U.S. Africa Command, that reducing forces had been a misstep. Townsend emphasized the enduring threat posed by al-Qaida’s al-Shabab group, both to regional stability and U.S. interests, advocating for a sustained counterterrorism presence in Somalia.

In a recent legislative move, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., proposed a resolution in April 2023 urging a complete withdrawal of U.S. counterterrorism forces from Somalia. However, the proposal was overwhelmingly defeated in a 102-321 vote. As of June 2023, the U.S. maintained a modest military presence in Somalia, comprising primarily special operations forces numbering just under 500 personnel.