Dan Moses

Retired Colonel Dan Moses (not “Daniel” and with no middle name—which Dan found the Saudis gave him as a requirement of anyone leaving Saudi Arabia) passed away peacefully in his sleep May 2nd.  Dan, 91, was a 82nd and 101st Airborne Ranger, in addition to a loving husband, father, and grandfather, lifelong student, and dedicated sports fan. Born into the Great Depression, he was the last of six children. As a child, he loved living in a town with his large, extended family; driving his billie goat cart around town; and riding his prized pony “Doc”. 

Dan was forced to grow quickly, and by the age of 12 he was managing several crews of adult men clearing wooded swamps in Georgia and Florida for his father’s construction company. By his graduation from high school, he had relocated 13 times as his family traveled to where construction contracts were awarded.

Dan decided to attend the US Military Academy at West Point with little knowledge of the military. Due to the lack of available preparatory education, Dan finished third from the last in French his plebe year at West Point. The two cadets behind him flunked out. Dan persevered and finished in the middle of his graduating class in French.

Upon graduating from West Point, the Colonel's first assignment was Fort Bragg. A West Point buddy, also a lieutenant, introduced Dan on a blind date to his girlfriend’s life-long friend. Later Dan and Addye Henry Baggett were married December 28, 1956 in Lillington, N.C.  

As a captain, Dan’s 101st Airborne company jumped for President Kennedy at Fort Bragg. Fayetteville Times photos showed Dan shaking President Kennedy’s hand.  He later served two Vietnam tours, one as an advisor with the Vietnamese Airborne where he made three combat parachute jumps and one with the 101st Airborne Division. Among other heroic deeds, Dan rescued two helicopter pilots from a crashed helicopter on fire.  Dan returned to the helicopter after exiting and discovering that the two helicopter pilots were trapped, suspended helplessly upside down.  Dan cut the pilots’ harnesses and dragged them to safety. It was only one of many such heroics during his two tours in the Vietnam jungles.

After retiring from the US Army, Dan continued to learn and help others, graduating with a MBA from Campbell University at the age of 58 and training troops as a consultant well into his 70’s–at one point stating he had trained over 50% of the officers in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Ret. Colonel Moses is preceded in death by his wife Addye Henry, his father and mother, Emmett and Henrietta, brother Stuart, and four sisters, Billie, Jane, Susan, and Louise.  Dan loved his sports, including Army teams and especially his beloved Tar Heels, but he cherished his children.  He is survived by his four children, James, and his wife Judy, Catherine, Steve, and his wife Leisa, and Nancy Vannoy, and her husband Rob Vannoy. Additionally, Dan is survived by seven amazing and loving grandchildren, Kelly (Clarkson), Erin, Molly, Kylie, Connor, Caden, and Ciara.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday May 15th, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Haymount United Methodist Church, 1700 Fort Bragg Road, Fayetteville, NC.  Immediately following at 11:00 am will be a Military Honors Burial at Lafayette Memorial Park.

Online condolences may be made at http://www.jerniganwarren.com

Funeral arrangements by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St. Fayetteville, N.C. 28301

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