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Chaplain dies in Djibouti

A high-ranking Air Force chaplain died of natural causes Tuesday in Djibouti, where he was serving a tour ministering to Operation Enduring Freedom troops.

Lt. Col. Joseph A. Moore, 54 — known as “Art” — served full-time as chaplain for the Idaho Air and Army National Guard. Moore was a 19-year Guard veteran and Boise resident currently assigned to the Idaho Air National Guard’s 124th Wing. He leaves behind two parents, a wife and a daughter, according to Lt. Col. Tim Marsano, an Air National Guard spokesman.

“He loved his family, loved his career, loved Idaho and anybody who knew Art also knew he loved fishing,” Moore’s family said in a statement. “Being a minister to service members was dear to his heart and he was available to help anybody at any time.”

The Air Force’s incoming Chief of Chaplains, Cecil Richardson, a major general select, was slated to arrive Wednesday at Delaware’s Dover Air Force Base, where Moore’s remains are expected to arrive.

Moore was serving a seven-month tour in Djibouti, home of Camp Lemonier and Operation Enduring Freedom — Horn of Africa.

Idaho’s adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Larry Lafrenz, credited Moore with offering “spiritual and moral guidance, common sense and friendship” to Idaho guardsmen. “He was always there for us when we needed him and we will miss him more than words can express.”