World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Harry Anthony Moore
Branch of Service
U.S. Marine Corps
Hometown
Blackwell, Oklahoma
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
JOINED THE MARINE CORPS IN 1942 AND WAS SELECTED FOR FLIGHT TRAINING. TOOK PRE-FLIGHT TRAINING AT ST. MARY'S IN CALIFORNIA, COMPLETED FLYING TRAINING, WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT AND AWARDED NAVAL AVIATION WINGS. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE BATTLESHIP USS IDAHO BB-42. DUTIES INCLUDED SERVING AS AN ADMIRAL'S AIDE DE CAMP. SAILED OVERSEAS TO THE NORTH PACIFIC TO THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS OFF ALASKA. HIS SHIP WAS ENGAGED IN PATROL ACTIVITIES AND BOMBARDMENT OF ATTU ISLAND TO SUPPORT ARMY LANDINGS ON MAY 11, 1943; THEN ASSISTED IN THE ASSAULT OF KISKA ISLAND ON AUGUST 15, 1943. SAILED FROM PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII AND ARRIVED OFF MAKIN ATOLL IN THE GILBERT ISLANDS ON NOVEMBER 20, 1943. SUPPORTED OPERATIONS THERE UNTIL DECEMBER 5, 1943 WITH NAVAL GUNFIRE AND ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRES. PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS AT KWAJALEIN ATOLL WITH SHORE BOMBARDMENT FROM JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 5, 1944. TOOK PART IN PRE-INVASION BOMBARDMENT OPERATIONS IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS OFF SAIPAN ISLAND ON JUNE 14, 1944, AND OFF GUAM ON JULY 12, 1944. HIS SHIP SUPPORTED THE MAIN ASSAULT AT GUAM AND FOLLOW-ON OPERATIONS UNTIL AUGUST 2, 1944. SAILED TO PELELIU TO PROVIDE FIRE SUPPORT FOR THE INVASION FROM SEPTEMBER 12-24, 1944; THEN TO IWO JIMA TO PROVIDE FIRES FROM FEBRUARY 19-MARCH 7, 1945; THEN TO OKINAWA TO FIRE IN SUPPORT OF PRE-INVASION SHORE BOMBARDMENT AND LATER TO ASSIST IN ASSAULT LANDINGS FROM MARCH 25-APRIL 1, 1945. ON APRIL 12, 1945, HIS SHIP WAS ATTACKED BY KAMIKAZE SUICIDE AIRCRAFT, DAMAGED AND TAKEN OUT OF ACTION BRIEFLY UNTIL MAY 22, 1945. RETURNED TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS AT OKINAWA UNTIL JUNE 20, 1945. SAILED INTO TOKYO BAY ON AUGUST 27, 1945 AND WITNESSED THE FORMAL SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE THERE ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1945. RETURNED TO NORFOLK NAVY BASE, VIRGINIA ON OCTOBER 16, 1945. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE SERVICE STARS AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. SERVED FOR 5 YEARS AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.