Moore also co-wrote the lyrics with Barry Sadler for the Ballad of the Green Berets, which was one of the major hit songs of 1966.
At the time of his death, Moore was residing in Hopkinsville, Kentucky (home to Fort Campbell and the 5th Special Forces Group) where he was working on his memoirs as well as three other books.
During World War II he served as a nose gunner in the U.S. Army Air Corps, flying combat missions in the European Theater of Operations. Moore graduated from Harvard College in 1949.
Thanks to connections with fellow Harvard graduate, Robert F. Kennedy, Moore was allowed access to the U.S. Army Special Forces. It was General William P. Yarborough who insisted that Moore go through special forces training in order to better understand "what makes Special Forces soldiers 'special'." He trained for nearly a year, first at "jump school" before completing the [[Special Forces Qualification Course]] or "Q Course", becoming the first civilian to participate in such an intensive program. Afterward, Moore was assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group on deployment to South Vietnam. His experiences in South East Asia formed the basis for ''The Green Berets.
An engrossing tale of whether the Earth can be saved from destruction, the story unfloding with vibrant characters resonating perfectly with the plot.
Disguised in human form, a supernatural being returns to Earth on a mission -- saving the planet from destruction by outer space beings. He takes on the Mafia, the Establishment and the police in this quest -- in the process falling in love with the beautiful Felecia.
Through all of this, unknowingly, Earth faces its greatest peril: Obliteration!
The reader is kept on pins and needles as to who will end up destroying mankind.