Fred Moore (pictured) may not be a household name to many, but
the pioneering U.S. Army soldier was the first African-American
man to hold a guard post at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,
which is considered to be one of the most-honorable military
duties. Moore was recognized in honor of Black History Month by
the Public Affairs office of the Army as he retold his epic
journey. Moore joined the army in 1959 amid racial tensions
sparked largely by the Civil Rights Movement. He was a reluctant
soldier, using family advice to make his transition to serve as
smooth as possible. “I had three older brothers who had been in
the service, and the advice they gave me before I left was to
keep my mouth shut and don’t volunteer for anything,” said Moore
in an interview. However, his defiance against his siblings paid
off in the long run. Moore volunteered for entry into the 3rd
U.S. Infantry Regiment aka the Old Guard. From there, Moore
would become part of the annals of Black history. After a visit
from then-President