John Anderson Moore

Who was John Anderson Moore?

John Anderson Moore was a submarine commander in the United States Navy. He served during World War II, earning the Navy Cross with two gold stars in lieu of a second and third Navy Cross and a Purple Heart before being killed in action. The U.S. Navy frigate USS John A. Moore is named in his honor.

Moore had boxed and played soccer at the United States Naval Academy. He served on R and S class submarines, before assuming command of the submarine USS Grayback on its last three patrols during 1943-1944. Under the overall command of innovator Charles "Swede" Momsen, Grayback, USS Cero and USS Plunger launched the U.S. Navy's first attack against enemy shipping using "wolfpack" tactics. Moore was credited with multiple events of "extraordinary heroism" in repeated forays against Japanese vessels in the East China Sea before being killed in action during the last of the Grayback's patrols.