Bernard Joseph Moran, Jr. was born on December 25, 1937, in Philadelphia, PA. He attended South East Catholic High School and was a member of the baseball and swimming teams. Bernard and his family later moved to Wildwood, NJ. His home of record is North Wildwood, NJ.
Following high school, Bernard enlisted in the US Marine Corps. He received his basic training at Parris Island before being stationed at Camp Lejeune. He was trained as a photo-imagery interpreter. Moran served his first tour of duty in Vietnam in 1965, as a member of the 3rd Marine Division. While stationed in Danang, he was with the Joint Chief of Staff in the 02 field, or intelligence. In 1968, he was stationed at Pearl Harbor where he continued to interpret aerial photographs.
In 1970, Moran volunteered for his second tour of duty. He was then promoted to Master Gunnery Sergeant (MGySgt). During his second tour, he voluntarily flew over thirty low-altitude, hand-held photographic missions at great personal risk. As Moran’s second tour was nearing its end, he was placed on short timer status. Despite this status, Moran volunteered for another low altitude mission to take place on December 12, 1971. While flying near the South Vietnam/Cambodia border, his plane took some ground fire and went down, killing him and his pilot. He was the only Imagery Analyst to die in active combat during the War.
Moran received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal with four stars, the National Defense Service Medal, the Joint Service Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Information from Monmouth University Student, Friend, vvmf.org and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024
