Florida Times-Union -- Services are pending for a highly decorated Army command sergeant major from Waycross who was killed Friday while serving at a major base near Tikrit in northern Iraq.

Command Sgt. Maj. Benjamin Moore Jr., 43, died at U.S. Army Contingency Operating Base Speicher of injuries sustained in a non-combat incident in Salah ad Din province, Army officials said.

Investigation continues into the circumstances of the incident and no details have been released, said Loran Doane, public affairs officer for the U.S. Army Garrison in Hawaii.

Doane said it's not uncommon for details to be withheld until after the investigation is complete.

A 1983 Waycross High School graduate, Moore was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Moore's family couldn't be reached for comment Monday. On their behalf, the Army issued a written statement asking the public and news media to respect their privacy.

"The Moore family wishes to thank the public and media for their prayers and support, but kindly request the privacy and space to mourn [their] loss," the Army said.

Moore joined the Army in June 1983 and was assigned to Schofield Barracks in July 2007, Doane said.

An expert infantryman, Moore earned 55 medals during his nearly 26-year career with overseas service in Korea, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq. He also was air assault and airborne qualified, Doane said.

Operating Base Speicher, at the former Al Sahra Airfield about 106 miles north of Baghdad, is headquarters for the Multi-National Division North. Known as Task Force Lightning, the division is responsible for an area including the cities of Balad, Kirkuk, Tikrit, Mosul and Samarra, as part of the Army's Multi-National Corps - Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Doane said a memorial service will be held for Moore at Schofield Barracks, but the date hadn't been finalized. Funeral arrangements in Waycross hadn't been set as of Monday.

==Another news story==

Honolulu Advertiser -- Command Sgt. Maj. Benjamin Moore Jr. was the senior enlisted man in his battalion in Iraq, and he was the "lifeline" of his large family back in Georgia, his sister said.

Moore, 43, an Army veteran of 26 years with service in South Korea, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq, died Friday at Contingency Operating Base Speicher in northern Iraq of non combat related injuries, the Army said.

With Moore's death, three Schofield Barracks soldiers with the 3rd Brigade have died from non combat causes since the 3,500-soldier unit deployed in October and November. Three other soldiers with the brigade have died in combat.

Moore was the "baby" of the family of 10 sisters and five brothers, said one of those sisters, Teresa Brakes.

"He's the glue that held the family together when we used to go through crises and stuff," said Brakes, who lives in Waycross, Ga. "He was the one that we went to and he would sit down and put it to us in a way we could understand, and just give us good advice. And the advice that he gave us, it was usually the right thing to do."

Moore, known as "Benny" to Brakes, was the youngest of the siblings, but his maturity left others looking to him for guidance, Brakes said.

Her brother was married and has two sons and a daughter, Brakes told The Advertiser in a phone interview yesterday. One of those sons is in the military, she said. Moore's wife, Mary, also is a Schofield Barracks soldier.

Moore was interested in photography, and he liked to give slide shows at family reunions in Georgia, Brakes said.

Accolades for Moore came in one after the other to http://www.legacy.com/gb2/default.aspx?bookid=126599064 which allows readers to offer condolences.

"I enjoyed all moments with you. Your wisdom and advice helped me more than once. May you rest in peace," Schofield soldier Staff Sgt. Reag Wood wrote on the Web site.

"My prayers go out to the Moore family. CSM Moore inspired me to become a better (noncommissioned officer) and person. He will always be remembered," added Staff Sgt. Dirrick Jennings, also a Schofield soldier.

Moore was with the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry "Wolfhounds."

The circumstances surrounding his death are under investigation, the Army said.

Non combat deaths can be the result of natural causes, vehicle or other accidents, friendly fire, homicide or suicide.

Brakes said the Army hasn't provided any information about what happened to her brother.

"They are not telling us anything," she said. "They haven't even released the body yet."

Brakes said Moore was a "strong-willed" person who loved life and his family.

He loved the Army "and he recommended it to anyone," his sister said. "His whole talk was the service."

He had served in Operations Desert Storm in 1991, she said. Moore earned 55 medals over his 26-year career, including a Bronze Star with Valor, the Army said.

In the February edition of the Wolfhounds newsletter to families, Moore said his wife was receiving chemo-therapy for cancer, and he asked that those back home keep her in their hearts.