Hugh A Moore -- Newport

Commander Hugh A. Moore, a resident of Middletown, RI and a native of Chocowinity, NC, died suddenly at the age of 88 on September 11, 2009 at Newport, RI.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 63 years Barbara Mae Lovell Moore formerly of Norwich, CT, son Richard Bruce Moore and daughter-in-law Kathleen O’Donnell of Middletown, RI, daughter Barbara Beth Moore of New York City, NY and his son Hugh Aubert Moore and daughter-in-law Katherine Plautz Moore of Barrington, RI. He was the grandfather of Peony, Katie, Beth, Neil and Sean. He is also survived by his sisters, Leah of Galesburg, IL and Julia of Buffalo, NY.

CDR Moore was born in Chocowinity, NC on 1 July 1921, the son of Herman A. Moore of Chocowinity, NC and Iola Bruce Buck of Grantsboro, NC. He attended school in Raleigh, NC, graduating from Needham B. Broughton High School in 1940 and was a 1978 graduate of University of RI.

He enlisted in the US Navy on September 26, 1940 in Raleigh, NC and served more than 30 years. He was aboard the USS Pelias, a sub tender, at Pearl Harbor during the attack on December 7, 1941. He volunteered for submarine duty and was aboard the USS Trout (SS-202) during the Battle of Midway. He later witnessed the Japanese surrender proceedings in Tokyo Bay September 1945 through a telescope from the signal bridge of the USS Highlands.

In 1949 CDR Moore served at the Navy Reserve Officer Training Unit at Tufts College as an Associate Professor.
In 1953 he was assigned to USS Remey (DD688). While serving aboard USS Remy, he participated in the Korean War delivering gunfire support.

CDR Moore received his commission in August of 1954. He was promoted to Ensign in August 1954 and assigned to USS Yosemite (Ad16). During his service aboard, he was assigned duties as Navigator, First LT and Gunnery Officer. In 1956 he was assigned to USS Malloy (EDE1098) and again assigned duties as Navigator, First LT and Gunnery Officer and was promoted to Lieutenant JG.

In 1958 CDR Moore was assigned to The Fleet Training Group at Guantanamo, Bay, Cuba where his was assigned to the Operations Department as the Assistant Operations Officer. During that tour he was promoted to LT.

In his next tour (1960-1963) at The Officer Candidate School in Newport, CDR Moore served as the Assistant Academic director and was promoted to LT CDR. He was assigned to USS Luiseno (AFT156) in 1963 as the Commanding Officer and in 1966 was assigned to a second tour at The Officer Candidate School in Newport. He served as the Director of the Training Craft Division. In 1967, now-CDR, Moore volunteered to serve in Vietnam and served in Chu Lai and Da Nang from 1967 to 1968.

His final tour was as the 54th commanding officer of the USS Constitution in Charlestown, MA.

He was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat “V” for his service in Vietnam. In addition to the Bronze Star, he had earned two Presidential Unit Citations, The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 15 Battle stars, The Submarine Combat Patrol Pin, The Navy Unit Commendation Medal, The American Theatre Medal, The American Defense Medal, The Philippine Liberation Medal, The Navy Occupation Medal, The World War II Victory Medal, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Vietnam Campaign Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and The United Nation Service Medal.

After retiring from the Navy, Hugh embarked on a few new careers: Teaching mathematics to 5th graders at The New School in Middletown, RI and mathematics plus computer sciences to the upper classes. He Captained the Sloop Providence, a “small” tall ship. In his leisure time he commanded the racer-cruiser “Blue Fox”, with his First Mate, Barbara. He served on the Race Committee for the New York Yacht Club for many years, including the 2009 Six Metre World Cup last week. In addition to his membership in the NYYC, CDR Moore was a member of Sail Newport, Coasters Harbor Navy Yacht Club, Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, the US Navy Memorial Foundation, and the USS Pelias Association, WWII Submarine Veterans, and the USS Highlands Association.

In 1995 Hugh and Barbara, and other Pearl Harbor survivors, were White House guests in Hawaii to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Peace Treaty with the Japanese.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lucy’s Hearth, 913 West Main Road in Middletown, RI. 02842

Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 18, 2009, 10:00 AM at Saint Columba’s Chapel, 55 Vaucluse Avenue in Middletown, RI.

For more information please visit www.onhfh.com

Reported: 09/14/09 (Show all obituaries for this day)

By: O'Neill-Hayes Funeral Home (Show all obituaries and information about this funeral home)

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