Thomas Hinman Moorer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Thomas Hinman Moorer | |
|---|---|
| February 9, 1912 – February 5, 2004 (aged 91) | |
 Admiral Thomas H. Moorer |
|
| Place of birth | Mount Willing, Alabama |
| Place of death | Bethesda, Maryland |
| Place of burial | Arlington National Cemetery |
| 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 Vietnam War |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Navy Distinguished Service Medal (5) Silver Star Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Purple Heart Gray Eagle Award |
Thomas Hinman Moorer (February 9, 1912 – February 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
[edit] Foreign personal decorations
He also has been decorated by thirteen foreign governments:
- Portugal (Military Order of Aviz);
- Greece (Silver Star Medal, First Class);
- Japan (Order of Double Rays of the Rising Sun) and (First Class of the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun);
- Republic of China (Precious Tripod (Pao-Ting) Medal) and (Order of Cloud and Banner (Yun Hui) with Special Grand Cordon);
- Philippines (Legion of Honor rank of Commander)
- Brazil (Order of the Naval Merit, Grande Oficial);
- Chile (Gran Estrella al Merito Militar);
- Venezuela (Order of Naval Merit 1st Class);
- Republic of Korea (Order of National Security Merit, 1st Class);
- Netherlands (Grand Cross, Order of Orange-Nassau with Swords);
- Federal Republic of Germany (Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit);
- Italy (Knight of the Grand Cross);
- Spain (Grand Cross of Navy Merit; and
- Norway (Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olaf).
[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
- ^ Thomas H. Moorer. Stars and Stripes "A fair probe would attack Liberty misinformation" January 16, 2004.
[edit] References
- "Thomas H. Moorer, Admiral, United States Navy". Arlington National Cemetery website.
[edit] Further reading
- U.S. Department of Defense (February 05, 2004). "Death of Retired U.S. Navy Adm. Thomas M. Moorer". Press release. Retrieved on 2005-03-24.
- RADM Clarence A. (Mark) Hill, Jr.,USN (Ret) (24 February 2004). "In Memory of Adm. Thomas Moorer (eulogy)". Retrieved on 2005-03-24.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
