Moore, Paul, Jr.

Date of birth:: November 15th, 1919 (Morristown/New Jersey, United States)
Date of death:: May 1st, 2003 (Greenwich Village/New York City, New York, United States)
Service number:: 0-8836
Nationality:: American

Biography

Paul joined the Marine Corps in 1941. As a platoon leader of the 1st Marine Division in the Tulagi-Guadalcanal operation of 1942, he was seriously wounded. Later he served as officer in charge of the marine V-12 program at the University of Washington Command and Staff School and as company commander and operations officer at Guam. He left the service in the rank of Captain. He earned numerous awards for merit during battle. His memoir "Presences: A Bishop's Life in the City" has an excellent description of the Matanikau river battles, during which he was wounded.

After the war, Moore was ordained as priest at Episcopal Church in December 1949 and ended up being the thirteenth bishop of New York from 23 September 1972.

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Navy Cross

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Second Lieutenant
Unit:: Company G, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division "The Old Breed", U.S. Marine Corps
Awarded on:: August 5th, 1943

"For extraordinary heroism and distinguished service while in command of a platoon of Company G, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in combat against enemy Japanese forces in the Matanikau River Area, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on the morning of 3 November 1942. Pressing forward in the face of a steady barrage of hostile machine-gun and mortar fire, Second Lieutenant Moore, by aggressive charges and skillful employment of his units, forced the enemy to retreat to the ocean's edge. As the Japanese fought desperately to survive, he stayed on the line with his platoon, directing its fire under terrific assaults by the enemy, and urged his men forward in a series of hand-grenade and bayonet charges, personally leading their successive attacks. In the final stages of the engagement, although critically wounded by a hand grenade fragment and lying prostrate and helpless, he continued to encourage his men to keep attacking until he lost consciousness. His cool, courageous daring and outstanding leadership were an inspiration to all in his command."

SPOT AWARD: Serial 721