Ulvert Matthew Moore

Ensign, United States Naval Reserve

Navy Cross

Ulvert Matthew Moore was the son of Lloyd Elmer Moore and Effie May Vines who were married on 01 Sept 1913 in Staunton, VA. His siblings were Lloyd Elmer Jr., and Ralph Norwood Moore.

Ulvert graduated from Beaver high school and received his diploma at commencement exercises in the evening of 23 May 1935 with 171 other graduates, this being the largest graduating class in the history of the school. He attended Bluefield College in Bluefield, WVA for two years. At Bluefield, he was a member of Eta Tau Beta, the Varsity Club, Tennis team and was a Cheer Leader. His classmates at Bluefield "remembered when," "Shy Ulvert Moore inveigled his mother into letting him bring the car to school one day in order to avoid being properly razzed by the boys on the street car for carrying a peculiar corsage of marigolds and other atrocious flowers to a certain fair lady who was an admirer of nature's beauties, including Fuzzy."

In the fall of 1938 Ulvert transferred to the University of West Virginia in Morgantown, WV where he was a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity. He graduated from UWV in May 1940. Several months later Moore enlisted in the US Naval Reserve flight program (V-5) on 16 Sept 1940 at the Naval Reserve Air Base (NRAB) Washington, DC as a Seaman 2/c (NSN: 414-71-74). He completed his elimination flight training under instruction on 15 Nov 1940. He was then ordered to inactive duty and sent home to await further orders.

Seaman 2/c Moore reported to the Naval Air Station (NAS), Jacksonville, FL. where he was discharged to accept an appointment as an Aviation Cadet on 13 Jan 1941. He accepted the appointment on 14 Jan 1941. Because of the huge influx on new pilot trainees into the V-5 program space was at a premium at NAS Pensacola. So, Moore was berthed at NAS Jacksonville until space became available at Pensacola. After flight training at Pensacola (Jacksonville wasn't training until Sep 1941) and with the Advanced Training Specialized Carrier Group, Miami, FL where Moore received his navy pilot wings in May and a commission on 6 Jun 1941 as an Ensign, AV-(N), US Naval Reserve (USNR). Moore was detached from NAS Miami and transferred in a flight status to the Advanced Carrier Training Group (ACTG), Fleet Air Detachment at NAS, Norfolk, VA for additional training. He detached from ACTG in late summer and reported for duty to Torpedo Squadron Eight (VT-8) embarked on the new carrier USS Hornet (CV-8).

After four months of shake down training off the US East Coast and the Caribbean, USS Hornet (CV-8) with her embarked squadrons, set sail on 04 Mar 1942 for San Diego via the Panama Canal. San Diego was to be her new home port. Shortly after arriving in San Diego, Hornet was underway again and arrived at NAS Alameda on 20 March 1942 where she loaded 16 B-25s on to her flight deck. On 18 April 1942 the Hornet launched those same B-25s under the command of LtCol Jimmie Doolittle in the first attack by American forces against the Japanese homeland during WWII. After the attack Hornet steamed to Hawaii to refuel/rearm and then ordered with USS Enterprise (CV-6) to the South Pacific to assist the carriers USS Lexington (CV-2) and USS Yorktown (CV-5) in the battle of the Coral Sea. Unfortunately, Hornet and Enterprise arrived too late to be a factor in the battle. Assigned to other short-term duties, Hornet arrived back in Pearl Harbor on 26 May.

On 28 May 1942, Hornet and Enterprise got underway and steamed toward Midway and "Point Luck." Early in the morning of 4 Jun 1942 Hornet launched her air group of 59 planes to attack the Japanese carriers. Torpedo Squadron Eight (VT-8) found the enemy carriers and without fighter protection the 15 planes of VT-8 pressed their attack through an onslaught of enemy fighter and anti-aircraft fire. One by one the torpedo planes were sent hurtling into the sea. All 15 aircraft were shot down with the loss of 29 of the 30 aircrew. Ens Moore and his radioman/gunner, ARM3 William Franklin Sawhill, did not return. Their remains were unrecoverable. According to the Hornet's Midway battle after action report dated 13 Jun 1942 they were listed as "missing in action." On 5 Jun 1943 they were officially listed as presumed dead. In that report Rear Admiral (Select) Mitscher, Hornet CO, nominated each member of Torpedo Eight who flew into battle on 4 Jun 1942 for the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Ens. Moore was (posthumously) awarded the Navy Cross Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Presidential Unit Citation ribbon, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze battle star, and the World War II Victory Medal. He was not eligible for the Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) according to the 2019 Navy/Marine Corps Awards Manual.

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Navy Cross Citation:

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Ulvert Matthew Moore, Ensign, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane of Torpedo Squadron EIGHT, attached to the U.S.S. HORNET, during the "Air Battle of Midway," against enemy Japanese forces on 4 June 1942. Grimly aware of the hazardous consequences of flying without fighter protection, and with insufficient fuel to return to his carrier, Ensign Moore resolutely, and with no thought of his own life, delivered an effective torpedo attack against violent assaults of enemy Japanese aircraft fire. His courageous action, carried out with a gallant spirit of self-sacrifice and a conscientious devotion to the fulfillment of his mission, was a determining factor in the defeat of the enemy forces and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

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Presidential Unit Citation:

Presented to Torpedo Squadron Eight for extremely heroic and courageous performance in combat during the Air Battle of Midway, June 4, 1942. Flying low without fighter support, Torpedo Squadron EIGHT began the perilous mission, Intercept and attack! First to sight the enemy, the squadron attacked with full striking power against crushing enemy opposition, scoring torpedo hits on Japanese forces. Realizing to a man that insufficient fuel would prevent a return to the carrier, the pilots held doggedly to the target, dropping torpedoes at point-blank range in the face of blasting antiaircraft fire that sent the planes one by one, hurtling aflame in the sea. The loss of 29 lives, typifying valor, loyalty, and determination, was the price paid for Torpedo Squadron EIGHTs vital contribution to the eventual success of our forces in this epic battle of the air.

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His family also received a commemoration from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It reads: In grateful memory of Ulvert Matthew Moore, who died in the service of his country, SEA, Pacific Area, ATTACHED U.S.S. HORNET, 5 JUNE 1943 (Presumed). He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives -- in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.

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The USS Ulvert M Moore (DE-442) was named in his honor. The Moore was sponsored by his mother, Mrs. L. E. Moore. USS Moore was commissioned on 18 July 1944 and her first commanding officer was Lcdr Franklin D Roosevelt, Jr., USNR (the son of the President). The Moore saw much action in the Pacific during WWII and earned five battle stars. Lcdr Roosevelt was awarded the Legion of Merit while CO of USS Ulvert M. Moore for action against a Japanese submarine on 31 Jan 1945. She earned three battle stars in action off Korea. She was struck from the Naval Register on 01 Dec 1965 and was sunk as a target on 13 July 1966 by aircraft from USS Coral Sea (CV-43) and by surface gunfire.

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SECNAV commendation for Doolittle Raid in 1995

Task Force 16 Citation Recognizing its contribution to the Doolittle Raid, 18 April 1942

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Second World War, it is appropriate that we take time to reflect on the unique and daring accomplishments achieved early in the war by Task Force 16. Sailing westward under sealed orders in April 1942, only four months after the devastating raid on Pearl Harbor, Task Force 16, carrying sixteen Army B-25 bombers, proceeded into history. Facing adverse weather and under constant threat of discovery before bombers could be launched to strike the Japanese homeland, the crews of the ships and LTC Doolittle's bombers persevered. On 18 April 1942 at 14:45, perseverance produced success as radio broadcasts from Japan confirmed the success of the raids. These raids were an enormous boost to the morale of the American people in those early and dark days of the war and a harbinger of the future for the Japanese High Command that had so foolishly awakened "The Sleeping Giant." These exploits, which so inspired the service men and women and the nation live on today and are remembered when the necessity of success against all odds is required.

(Signed) John H.Dalton

Secretary of the Navy

15 May 1995

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Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) note:

[None of the Navy/Marine flight crews in the Battle of Midway were awarded the Combat Action Ribbon (CR). See Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual (SECNAVINST 1650.1H of Aug 22, 2006, Chapter 2, Section 3, p2-34). It reads in part, “The CR will not be awarded to personnel for Aerial Combat, . . . “]

(bio #118 composed by Gerry Lawton [G47/GML470])

Find A Grave Memorial #56126166

Military Hall of Honor Honoree ID:# 98339