Jolly Moore, the army’s wife who helped change the military protocol

When Kishha Patterson spoke last time with her husband, Esau, she was an ordinary conversation under unusual circumstances. “We talked that morning,” she said. “It was like any other day.

In April 2004, Army Staff Sergeant, Isso Patterson, was working in Iraq. They met years ago in the church, in Fort. Penning in Georgia. They got married, had two children, and they were planning to reunite the family when he returned.

But then came at the door. Kisha said: “There are two members of the unified service standing there.” “And they looked at me, and I saw tears in their eyes, when I knew.”

A bomb was killed by her husband’s car. He was 25 years old. She said, “I will never say goodbye.” “I will never touch it. I will never do anything else.”

I asked, “What does it mean to you have members of the service with you?”

Kisha replied: “This means that what died for him was fine, and that he was protecting this country and really serving.”

These soldiers were doing an official duty that had not always been implemented. During the civil war, the army had no official notification system. Sometimes families will receive a message. By World War I and through the Vietnam War, the army was sending a telegram, until an army wife named Julia Moore (known as Jolie) entered.

Her son Greg Moore said: “The army’s culture has completely changed.” “In 1965, during the battle of Ia Drang, death notifications were delivered to husbands by telegrams and stations. Cold, cruel, window. It was angry.”

Julie Moore’s wife, Hull, was high -quality lieutenant, and then served in Vietnam when, as she was described in a letter, a taxi driver withdrew to her home: “When the bell rang, she decided not to answer; this way, everything will be well,” she wrote. “I finally said to myself,” Come on, Jolie, you have to face what will come, so go to the door. “

It turns out, the driver needs directions.

“At that moment, she knew what she felt to get that telegram, and she never wanted to get anyone else to get this receipt and he has no physical person with them,” said Greg Moore.

Therefore, Jolly Moore concluded a deal with the local Western Union office: they were calling it whenever a telegram came.

“We We We WE We Canner” in 2002, how you will hurry Jolie Moore for the comfort of widows.

Although she took care of her five young children, Moore helped the wives of the army on the home front, as she was told in an interview with him in 2001: “I think people forget that these men have families. And that these families had problems. The wives were left alone to deal with them as much as they could.

Together, the army’s wives successfully pressed the al -Qaeda commander. “What they really wanted is that the army is to make a basic change, which they did, as the army must be responsible for delivering these telegrams to wives and personal care of the husband during the time of healing change,” said the son of Julie Dev Moore.

Service personnel now notify families personally, and provide additional support.

When the censor army. Kendrick Ray first degree was notified in 2021, and it was a sacred mission. Now, families help in the following days. Ray was asked: “He was asked about what is going on in his mind before he knocked on the door, I said:” I just said a prayer, like, “How can I be in service to this family?

“I now think this is my goal,” he said. “I can tell people, like, hey, you are not alone. We are here with you, every step on the road.”

Jolly Moore died in 2004. Her husband died 13 years later.

In 2023, the Pentagon Penning was renamed foot. Go To honor them both. This was the first time that an American military base was named for the civilian.

Dave Moore said: “It is not a legacy that I asked for,” it is a legacy that it built on herself. The hero rises to a moment and achieves great things, “said Dave Moore.

this year , The army post was renamed. Penning. But on the road, at the National Infantry Museum, its name lasts.

“When you think about what she did, what comes to your mind?” Keishha Patterson asked.

“It is enormous,” Patterson answered. “I can’t imagine that I have received a telegram with this information about it. So, I thank them only. There are husbands who bear this pain itself. There are mothers and fathers, there are children who get these jumps. So, I have made a difference for all of us.”

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The story produced by Robin McFadin. Editor: Joseph Frandino.