Thomas H. Moorer transcript

Collection — Container: Single Folder Collections - 2001 Box 14 (01.0360-01.0384), Folder: 01.0395 - Folder 1

Identifier: 01.0395

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This oral history interview transcript relates to Thomas H. Moorer who attended the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD from 1928 to 1933. In 1935, Moorer completed flight school and was stationed in Hawaii. He was present on December 7, 1941, when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. Moorer continued to serve in the Pacific Theater during World War II and remained in the U.S. Navy after the war. In 1964, he had become an Admiral and by 1970, the Chairman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, serving until 1974.

In the interview, Moorer recalls his first impressions of General MacArthur, who had asked him to send a plane to pick up any wounded servicemen in the Dutch East Indies.

Dates

Created: 1929-1974
Other: Majority of material found within 1941-1945
Other: Date acquired: 09/20/2001

Creator

Moorer, Thomas H. (Hinman), 1912-2004 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to all researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Biographical or Historical Information

Thomas H. Moorer was born on February 9, 1912, in Mount Willing, Alabama and attended Annapolis Naval Acadamy from 1928 to 1933. In 1935, Moorer was married, went to pilot school and was then stationed in Hawaii. He was present on December 7, 1941, when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. Moorer was also shot down on February 19, 1942, off the coast of Australia, with five other men in the plane, whom all survived. Moorer quickly rose through the ranks during his years in the Navy by 1942 Moorer had become a Commander and moved around to numerous fleets including the Mediterranean, the 7th Fleet, Pacific Fleet, and Atlantic Fleet.

After the war, Moorer was sent back to the United States to complete flight training in Pensacola, FL to learn how to fly every aircraft the Navy had at that time. Moorer was also the Supreme Allied Commander for the Atlantic for NATO. He then served as Chief of Naval Operations. By 1964, he had become an Admiral, and then, in 1970, he became the Chairman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff serving until 1974 for President Nixon. Moorer retired from the Navy on July 1, 1974, after forty-six years of service.

Throughout his years of military service, he was awarded many medals, including a Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross, Silver Star, 18 Foreign War medals, 6 Distinguished Service medals from the Navy, 1 Distinguished Service medal from the Air Force and Army, as well as 2 Distinguished Service medals from the Secretary of Defense. Moorer died February 5, 2004.