World War II Honoree

Edmond J. Moran

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

New York

Honored By

George Weck

Relationship

Friend

CONSIDERED ONE OF THE GREATEST EXPERTS IN TUGBOAT OPERATIONS IN THE WORLD, MR. MORAN WAS SELECTED BY AMERICAN AND BRITISH NAVIES TO PLAN HOW AND WHEN TO DELIVER TWO ARTIFICIAL HARBORS TO NORMANDY TO SUPPORT THE INVASION TROOPS. THIS IDEA WAS SCOFFED AT UNTIL HE SAID IT COULD BE DONE AND PROCEEDED TO DO IT. HE ORGANIZED THE LARGEST FLEET OF TUGS EVER ASSEMBLED, AND THE MASSIVE STRUCTURES, DESCRIBED AS THE EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD, WERE TOWED ACROSS THE ENGLISH CHANNEL. FOR THIS HEROIC DEED, NEWLY NAMED REAR ADMIRAL MORAN RECEIVED (AMONG OTHERS) THE U.S. LEGION OF MERIT, THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE, AND THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. PERHAPS THE MOST REWARDING HONOR CAME IN 1944, WHEN AN AMERICAN LIBERTY SHIP WAS NAMED FOR MICHAEL MORAN, HIS GRANDFATHER. THE WHOLE FAMILY WENT TO THE MAINE SHIPYARD FOR THE LAUNCH. THE SHIP WAS CHRISTENED BY NANCY, ONE OF REAR ADMIRAL MORAN'S SIX CHILDREN BY HIS WIFE OF 63 YEARS, ALICE LAUX.