Thomas Hinman Moorer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thomas Hinman Moorer
February 9, 1912(1912-02-09)February 5, 2004 (aged 91)

Admiral Thomas H. Moorer
Place of birth Mount Willing, Alabama
Place of death Bethesda, Maryland
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service 1933-1974
Rank Admiral
Commands held Chief of Naval Operations
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Silver Star
Distinguished Flying Cross
Purple Heart
Gray Eagle Award

Thomas Hinman Moorer (February 9, 1912February 5, 2004) was a U.S. admiral who served as both Chief of Naval Operations and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Moorer was born in Mount Willing, Alabama. His father, a dentist, named his son for his favorite Professor at Atlanta-Southern Dental College, Dr. Thomas Hinman. Dr. Hinman also has the honor of having one of the largest dental meetings in the nation named after him, which is held in Atlanta every March. Moorer was raised in Eufaula, Alabama; and then went on to the U.S. Naval Academy graduating in 1933. After completing Naval Aviation training at the Pensacola Naval Air Station in 1936, he flew with fighter squadrons based on the carriers Langley, Lexington and Enterprise.

Moorer served both as Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC) and Commander-in-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet — the first Navy officer to have commanded both fleets. He served as the Chief of Naval Operations between 1967 and 1970, at the height of U.S. involvement in Vietnam. He also served as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1970 until 1974.

Moorer believed that the 1967 Israeli attack on the USS Liberty was deliberate and that President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered the cover-up to maintain ties with Israel.[1]

In 1972, Moorer received the Gray Eagle Award, as the most senior active naval aviator, and held it until his retirement in 1974.

Moorer died on February 5, 2004 at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland at age 91. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

The middle school in Eufaula, Alabama is named for Admiral Moorer.

[edit] Awards and decorations

[edit] U.S. military personal decorations, unit awards, campaign awards

Bronze oak leaf cluster
Defense Distinguished Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Gold award star
Gold award star
Gold award star
Gold award star
Navy Distinguished Service Medal with four Gold Award stars
Silver Star
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Purple Heart
Presidential Unit Citation
American Defense Service Medal with A Device
American Campaign Medal
Bronze service star
Bronze service star
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two stars
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Bronze service star
Bronze service star
Navy Occupation Service Medal with Europe and Asia Clasps
China Service Medal
Bronze service star
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Philippine Defense Medal
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960- device.

[edit] Foreign personal decorations

He also has been decorated by thirteen foreign governments:

[edit] Civilian awards

He also has the following special awards:

  • Stephen Decatur Award for Operational Competence by the Navy League of the United States (May 1964);
  • Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree awarded by Auburn University (1968);
  • General William Mitchell Award, Wings Club of New York City (February 1968);
  • Member, Alabama Academy of Honor (August 1969);
  • Honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree awarded by Samford University (May 1970);
  • Frank M. Hawks Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Development of Aviation by the American Legion Air Service Post 501, New York City (January 1971) and
  • the Gray Eagle of the United States Navy Award presented at the Washington Navy Yard on June 29, 1972.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Thomas H. Moorer. Stars and Stripes "A fair probe would attack Liberty misinformation" January 16, 2004.

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

Preceded by
David L. McDonald
United States Chief of Naval Operations
1967-1970
Succeeded by
Elmo R. Zumwalt
Preceded by
Earle G. Wheeler
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
1970–1974
Succeeded by
George S. Brown
Persondata
NAME Moorer, Thomas Hinman
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Moorer, Thomas; Moorer, Admiral Thomas
SHORT DESCRIPTION Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
DATE OF BIRTH February 9, 1912
PLACE OF BIRTH Mount Willing, Alabama, United States of America
DATE OF DEATH February 5, 2004
PLACE OF DEATH Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America