Cdr. James Albert Moore

​January 15, 1927 - January 13, 2021 On Wednesday, January 13, 2021, Cdr. James Albert Moore, passed away in Reno, NV, at the age of 93. Jim was born on January 15, 1927, in Oakland, CA, to Albert Monroe and Mary Louise (Corica) Moore. He graduated from Point Loma H. S. in San Diego in 1944 and entered the Navy as an Apprentice Seaman that same year. In 1947, while stationed in San Diego, he met his future wife, Margaret Ann Drinkwater, of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 
Jim's unique breadth of US Navy service is worthy of a movie! His first tour of duty was aboard USS LST-1150, serving as a radar operator in the Pacific. Following World War II, he served in USS FRANK KNOX (DD742) where he sailed the Yangtze River on China Patrol. After two years was transferred to USS MANSFIELD (DD728) where his ship was subsequently struck by enemy mines during the Korean Conflict. Advancing in rate to Radarman First Class he applied for and changed his rating to Air Controlman in 1950, was assigned to GC A Unit 25, and advanced to Chief Petty Officer in 1953. Promoted to Warrant Officer, he was next assigned as Flight Deck Boatswain aboard USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN (CVA-39). Jim was promoted to the rank of Ensign in 1956 and assigned to Airborne Early Warning Squadron THREE. He was designated a Naval Flight Officer in November 1957. In January 1960 he received orders to Naval Air Station, Fallon Nevada as the Aviation Fuels Officer. Receiving orders to Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron TWELVE in January 1963, he deployed aboard USS FORRESTAL (CVA-59) and again aboard USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65), where he participated in OPERATION SEA ORBIT in which Nuclear Task Force ONE comprised of USS ENTERPRISE, USS BAINBRIDGE and USS LONG BEACH sailed around the world to demonstrate U.S. Naval Nuclear capabilities. Commander MOORE received orders in March 1966 as Officer-in-Charge of Ground Control Approach Unit FIFTY-FIVE. In August 1968 he was assigned as CIC Officer and later Flag Secretary and Aide to Commander Carrier Division FOUR, where he deployed in USS INDEPENDENCE (CVA-62), USSA SARATOGA (CVA-60), and USS FORRESTAL (CVA-59). September of 1970 found Commander MOORE back at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada for a second tour, this time as Operations Officer and Executive Officer until receiving orders in August 1972 to Training Squadron Eighty-Six and Carrier Airborne Early Warning Training Squadron ONE HUNDRED TEN for E-2B "Hawkeye" training. On 14 April 1973 he reported as Executive Officer, Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron ONE HUNDRED SIXTEEN, embarked in USS CONSTELLATION (CVA-64). He took command of the "World Famous SUN KINGS" on 18 April 1974, and deployed to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf as part of Attack Carrier Air Wing NINE embarked in USS CONSTELLATION (CVA-64) from June until December 1974. He completed his Commanding Officer tour of VAW-116 in May of 1975. In 1976 Commander MOORE returned to Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada for his twilight Navy tour as base Executive Officer. Throughout the course of Jim's 34-year naval career, he advanced through every rate and rank, from Apprentice Seaman to Commander, including Warrant grades W1-W4. He was designated a Naval Flight Officer in 1957. Included in his many awards are service medals from WWII, Korea, and Vietnam 
After retiring from the Navy, Jim went on to become the General Manager of the Nugget and Bonanza Casinos in Fallon. From there, he went into the real estate business before finally retiring for good in the early 1990s.