A U.S. Army soldier died in Syria while supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, according to the Department of Defense.
The department announced the death of Army Spc. Antonio I. Moore, 22, on Saturday. Moore, a resident of North Carolina, died Friday in Deir ez-Zor Province “during a rollover accident while conducting route clearing operations.”
Moore was a combat engineer assigned to the 364th Engineer Company, 363rd Engineer Battalion, 411th Engineer Brigade. He was on his first deployment after enlisting in the Army in 2017.
“The 363rd Engineer Battalion is deeply saddened at the loss of Spec. Antonio Moore,” Lt. Col. Ian Doiron, 363rd Engineer Battalion commander, said in a press release. “Antonio was one of the best in our formation. He will be missed by all who served with him. We will now focus on supporting his family and honoring his legacy and sacrifice.”
The soldier was a former football player and graduate of John T. Hoggard High School, and the team paid tribute to him on social media.
“Yesterday, we lost a good man,” the team wrote. “If you had the pleasure of knowing Antonio, you knew he was one of the most lovable human beings you would ever meet. He was a true hero as he fought for our country in the US military. Please send your thoughts and prayers to the Moore family.”
Yesterday, we lost a good man. If you had the pleasure of knowing Antonio, you knew he was one of the most lovable human beings you would ever meet. He was a true hero as he fought for our country in the US military. Please send your thoughts and prayers to the Moore family. pic.twitter.com/LjvHbJ78Oe
— Hoggard Football (@JTH_Vikings) January 25, 2020
Head football coach Craig Underwood further told local TV channel WECT6, “Tony was a such a light. Always smiling. He was a pleasure to coach and a true teammate. We appreciate his service and will miss him greatly.”
Moore’s military awards include the National Defense Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon, and he is survived by his mother, stepfather, three brothers, and one sister. The incident that took his life is currently being investigated.
