Fmr. Chairman of Joint Chiefs Adm. Thomas Moorer Dies

NewsMax Wires ^ | 2/06/04 | AP

[kattracks]

WASHINGTON - Adm. Thomas H. Moorer, a Pearl Harbor veteran who became chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Vietnam War, died Thursday. He was 91. Navy officials confirmed his death. Moorer served as the military's senior uniformed officer from July 1970 until his retirement in July 1974.

A native of Mount Willing, Ala., Moorer played football at the Naval Academy and received his commission in 1933. He joined one of the early generations of naval aviators, flying fighters off of the first American carriers, according to an official Navy biography.

He was stationed at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack on Dec. 7, 1941.

The following February, he was flying a PBY patrol plane over the water north of Darwin, Australia, when he was attacked by Japanese aircraft. He and his co-pilot landed the plane in the water and were rescued by a ship. That ship was attacked and sunk later that day. He received a Silver Star for gallantry throughout the ordeal and a Purple Heart for his wounds. He also received a Distinguished Flying Cross for a patrol mission later that year.

After the war, he rose through the ranks. President Johnson selected him to be chief of naval operations, the service's top officer, in 1967. He was reappointed by President Nixon in 1969.

Nixon also nominated him to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff the following year.

During the next few years, he supervised the U.S. troop withdrawal from South Vietnam.

After he retired, Moorer appeared frequently in the news media to comment on various issues.

In 1998, CNN cited him as confirming the American use of sarin, a nerve agent, in a mission to hunt down U.S. defectors in Laos during the Vietnam War. But he soon said he had simply heard of unconfirmed stories about it and had no independent knowledge. The network later retracted the story and reached a settlement with Moorer.

He also accused Israel of deliberately attacking the USS Liberty, an American spy ship monitoring the 1967 Six Day War. Israel said it was an error.

Navy biographies list residences in Eufala, Ala., and McLean, Va. His family includes his wife, the former Carrie Ellen Foy, and four children.

[kattracks]

"Betrayal behind Israeli attack on U.S. ship" by Admiral Thomas Moorer USN (Ret.)

[Coop]

Piping ashore. Rest in peace, Admiral.

[tedkrack]

RIP. That being said, Moorer was a bit of a fool in his later years. That business about his being a source for the 1998 Peter Arnett/CNN story about US forces using sarin gas against American defectors in Laos -- that was pretty pathetic. Moorer should have had the sense in his later years to keep his fool mouth shut.

[tedkrack]

RIP. That being said, Moorer was a bit of a fool in his later years. That business about his being a source for the 1998 Peter Arnett/CNN story about US forces using sarin gas against American defectors in Laos -- that was pretty pathetic. Moorer should have had the sense in his later years to keep his fool mouth shut.

[pabianice]

A native of Mount Willing, Ala., Moorer played football at the Naval Academy and received his commission in 1933. He joined one of the early generations of naval aviators, flying fighters off of the first American carriers, according to an official Navy biography. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack on Dec. 7, 1941. The following February, he was flying a PBY patrol plane...

Doofus journalist alert! A PBY is not a fighter...

Nonetheless, RIP, Admiral.

[skeeter]

Moorer was an interesting character and a friend to conservatives during the Clinton regime. He never seemed to be far from most of the seminal military events of the last 60 years.

[meandog]

RIP. That being said, Moorer was a bit of a fool in his later years. That business about his being a source for the 1998 Peter Arnett/CNN story about US forces using sarin gas against American defectors in Laos -- that was pretty pathetic. Moorer should have had the sense in his later years to keep his fool mouth shut.

In 1998, CNN cited him as confirming the American use of sarin, a nerve agent, in a mission to hunt down U.S. defectors in Laos during the Vietnam War. But he soon said he had simply heard of unconfirmed stories about it and had no independent knowledge. The network later retracted the story and reached a settlement with Moorer.

He was a decent, honest sailor...fair winds and following seas, admiral!

[Thinkin' Gal]

He was 91.

That's a relief. He was old and full of days. With a headline like that, my first thought was that an admiral got an "early out" ala Adm. Boorda.

[Tallguy]

Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, US Navy (Ret.)

Biography

ADM Thomas H. Moorer, USN (Ret.) was born in Mount Willing, Ala., on 9 February 1912. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, he served in cruisers for several years. He completed flight training in July, 1936, and then served in fighter squadrons aboard USS Langley (CV-1), USS Lexington (CV-2) and USS Enterprise (CV-6). He flew in VP-22 and VP-101 during the Dutch East Indies Campaign in 1942 and was later assigned as CO of BB-132 and staff of Commander Air Force, Atlantic Fleet.

Moorer's post-war assignments included the Strategic Bombing Survey (Japan); Naval Ordnance Test Stations, Chincoteague and Inyokern; Operations Officer of USS Midway (CVB-41) and ComCarDiv Four staff. He assumed command of USS Salisbury Sound (AV-13) in July 1956, and then continued to progress through a series of increasingly important assignments, achieving the rank of admiral on 26 June 1964. His duties have included Commander 7th Fleet; CinCPacFlt; and CinC Atlantic/CinC US Atlantic Fleet/Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic. On 1 August 1967 he became the 18th Chief of Naval Operations, and he was reappointed CNO on 12 June 1969. He was Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, from 1970 to 1974. He retired from the Navy on 1 July 974.

ADM Moorer has earned the Distinguished Service Medal with four Gold Stars, The Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, and the Presidential Unit Citation for service with VP-22. He has also been decorated by 13 foreign governments and received numerous civilian awards and citations for distinguished service. He and his wife, Carrie, reside in Bethesda, Md.

[RetiredArmy]

A true American. I was part of an Army detail sent from Fort Benning, GA to his hometown in Alabama back in like late 1971 or early 1972 to set up for the dedication of a school in his name I think it was. We had to stay for the dedication, then tear it all down afterwards. Long ride in the back of an old duce and a-half.

[Carry_Okie]

Moorer was one of the few consistent voices on the sellout of the Panama Canal. He has my gratitude for a life of patriotism. Prayers go for his family.

[Redbob]

That's "Eufaula" Alabama, not "Eufala."

(Went to school with a niece of his, Kappa Moorer, one of the prettiest girls I've ever seen...)

[clintonh8r]

I met Admiral Moorer when I was in NROTC, and served under him after I was commissioned. He was a patriot and a fine leader. May he rest in the peace he has earned.

[MindBender26]

He flew fighters off carriers early in career, and early in naval Aviation. Later he flew PBYs, off water and off land, but definitely, not off carriers.

PS, Ever see the video of the C-130 Herky landing on the carrier.... and then taking off again? Lots of stones there.

[tcuoohjohn]

Lets Belay the doofus remark....You cannot fly a PBY off a carrier. Moorer flew fighters off three carriers and transitioned to multiengine patrol aircraft as the need required. The writer had it correct. You merely misinterpreted it.