Editorial

From the President

On March 22 America lost a great lady. On that day Mrs. Carrie Moorer, widow of the late Admiral Thomas Moorer died after a long illness.

Admiral Moorer had one of the most distinguished careers in U.S. Military history. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he was a junior naval aviator at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. He saw extensive combat in World War II and was decorated for his heroism. Enjoying a meteoric rise through the ranks of the Navy, Admiral Moorer would serve as Commander-in-Chief of both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets (the first Navy officer to have commanded both fleets). He was Chief of Naval Operations from 1967-1970, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1970-1974.

Tom and Carrie Moorer had a long and loving marriage and were true partners in life. “They say a wife can make a man successful or happy,” Admiral Moorer said of his wife. “Mine has made me both successful and happy.”

He related how, after Pearl Harbor, his young wife had to make her way back to their home in Alabama, traveling by ship, train and bus for several weeks with an infant in her arms. Mrs. Moorer navigated innumerable moves during her husband’s long career, including duty stations in Japan and Britain and many places in between. She took the lead in raising four children and was a superb homemaker and hostess as well as a trusted advisor.

Following Admiral Moorer’s death I approached Mrs. Moorer with the idea of naming the Committee’s planned new headquarters after him. She and her family readily agreed and we are preparing to launch an ambitious capital drive to acquire the funds for this effect. The new Moorer Center will also include a tribute to Mrs. Moorer.
This capital campaign will help us to better our mission to highlight the stories and sacrifices of America’s heroes, and to provide a forum for the veterans of Vietnam to share their stories of valor with the public through our speaker programs, documentaries, and this publication.

We owe a special debt of gratitude to Admiral Moorer, who was one of the earliest supporters of our organization, and who spoke at the first six of our national conferences. It is fitting that, in this issue of Valor, we include the transcripts from several of the speakers and panels on Vietnam from our Ninth Annual Conference held last November. The conference was a tremendous success, and brought together some of the great heroes of Vietnam alongside their counterparts of World War II, Korea, and those fighting today in Afghanistan and Iraq. The conference was televised live on C-Span, then replayed several times in the ensuing months. None of this would have been possible without the early support of our friend, Admiral Moorer.

If you would like more details on the capital campaign please write to me at the following address:

National Vietnam Veterans Committee
1100 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 900
Arlington, VA 22201

As we look to the future, we will continue to provide an outlet for America’s greatest veterans to share their experiences with the public, and to preserve them for future generations. And we thank you again for your support.

Sincerely,
James C. Roberts
President