[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 115 (Tuesday, July 31, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5725-S5726]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO NED MOORE

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to an honored 
Kentuckian and veteran of World War II, Mr. Ned Moore. Mr. Moore 
visited the Nation's capital several months ago with Honor Flight, the 
group that helps bring veterans to Washington, D.C., to see the 
memorials that were built in their honor. Mr. Moore was able to see the 
World War II Memorial that he and his fellow sailors inspired.
  Ned's grandson, Mr. Tres Watson, is a good friend of mine, and when 
he made me aware of his grandfather's visit, I thought it worth a 
moment to share Ned's story with my colleagues. Ned Moore was born in 
Marydell, MS, on February 27, 1927. He joined the Navy in Jackson, MS, 
on August 1, 1944, at the age of 16, without his mother's consent. He 
was assigned to the USS Coronis, a landing-craft repair ship, on 
Christmas Day 1944.
  While Ned was aboard the Coronis, it saw action throughout the 
Pacific Theater, including acting as a support ship during the battle 
of Okinawa.
  In 1945, Ned was assigned to the United Nations, where among his 
duties he served as personal driver for UN delegates including Eleanor 
Roosevelt, who was a UN delegate at the time. She presented Ned with a 
Roosevelt dime after making his acquaintance.
  In March 1946, Ned was assigned to the USS Wright, a Saipan-class 
light aircraft carrier, where he served as an aircraft mechanic. While 
the Wright was stationed in Pensacola, FL, functioning as a training 
ship, Ned married Margaret Daly in 1948.
  In October 1952, Ned was assigned to the USS Bennington, an Essex-
class aircraft carrier that had been

[[Page S5726]]

recomissioned as an attack carrier. While the Bennington was stationed 
in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in February 1953, then-U.S. Senator John F. 
Kennedy obtained leave for Ned to return to the United States for the 
birth of his first child.
  In 1958, Ned was assigned to the USS Wasp in Boston after it had been 
overhauled to become the hub of a special anti-submarine group of the 
Sixth Fleet. While aboard the Wasp, Ned sailed through the 
Mediterranean and participated in Operation Blue Bat, a U.S. military 
intervention into Lebanon. The Wasp was responsible for transporting 
sick and injured Marines from Lebanon so they could receive care.
  In 1960, Ned was transferred to NAS, Naval Air Station Memphis. While 
in Memphis, Ned established the Naval Air Maintenance Training Group 
Library. He was also a courier between Memphis and Washington, carrying 
plans for jets under design.
  He retired from the Navy in Memphis on December 31, 1964, as a senior 
chief petty officer.
  After leaving the Navy, Ned and his family moved to Mayfield, KY, 
where he worked as a maintenance manager at the General Tire 
manufacturing facility. There, he raised three children, Debbie, Richy, 
and Mike. After retiring from General Tire in 1983, Ned and his wife 
kept their house in Mayfield while traveling the country in a motor 
home in the spring, summer, and fall and wintering in Florida. They 
travelled to all 50 States. They moved to Lillian, AL, in 2005.
  At this time I ask my U.S. Senate colleagues to join me in honoring 
Mr. Ned Moore for his service to country and his devotion to the 
defense of freedom. When World War II ended, he laid down his arms to 
become a productive, successful member of the community who was admired 
by his family, neighbors, and State. He has been a role model to Tres 
Watson and many other Kentuckians. I wish him all the best in his 
retirement and a happy future.

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