National Football Foundation

Moorer graduated from the United States Naval Academy on June 1, 1933, and was commissioned an ensign. After completing Naval Aviation training at the Pensacola Naval Air Station in 1936, he flew with fighter squadrons based on the aircraft carriers USS Langley, USS Lexington and USS Enterprise. Moorer also qualified in seaplanes and flew with a patrol squadron in the early years of World War II. He received a Purple Heart after being shot down and wounded off the coast of Australia in February 1942 and then surviving an attack on the rescue ship, Florence D., which was bombed and sunk the same day by enemy aircraft involved in the first Bombing of Darwin. Moorer also received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his valor three months later when he braved Japanese air superiority to fly supplies into, and evacuate wounded out of, the island of Timor.

Promoted to admiral in 1964, Moorer served both as Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet and Commander-in-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet — the first Navy officer to have commanded both fleets. He was Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet at the time of the Gulf of Tonkin incident and ordered an internal investigation into the conflicting reports which emerged following the event. Moorer served as the Chief of Naval Operations from 1967-70, at the height of U.S. involvement in Vietnam and worked closely with the most senior officers in the U.S. Military and Government. Admiral Moorer also served as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1970 until 1974. Upon completion of his second two year term as CJCS, he retired from the Navy on July 1, 1974. Moorer died on February 5, 2004, at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Md., at the age of 91. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Moorer was decorated by thirteen foreign governments.  His civilian awards include the Stephen Decatur Award for Operational Competence by the Navy League of the United States, the General William Mitchell Award by the Wings Club of New York City, the Frank M. Hawks Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Development of Aviation by the American Legion Air Service Post 501, the Gray Eagle Award presented at the Washington Navy Yard, the Gold Good Citizenship Medal by the Sons of the American Revolution, and the Lone Sailor Award by the U. S. Navy Memorial Foundation. Moorer is also a member of the Alabama Academy of Honor and held honorary Doctorate Degrees from Samford University and Auburn University.