More detail on this person: My dad suffered for
years with liver disease and in the end, that's
what took him. August 27, 1945 - October 24,
2005. I'm sure the pain of living through
Hurricane Katrina and losing his boat, which he
lived aboard, added to his demise.
He was a Purple Heart recipient and he also held
the Air Medal, after 2 tours in Vietnam. He was
drafted and deployed as a Radio Operator in the
infantry the first tour where he was wounded. He
came home, went to flight school where he was
honor graduate and returned to Vietnam for a
second tour. He retired with 26 years of total
service. He was a proud and loving father who is
sadly missed.
The following is the memorial I wrote:
Final Farewell to Captain Bill Moon:
Born in the hills of Alabama, he'd come full
circle in his lifetime garnering a bevy of
accolades and even more friends along the way.
William Wayne Moon, born August 27, 1945, was a
beloved son and brother who played music in the
band and loved fast cars - even owned a few in his
time.
He was a ground pounder in his early Army days
and served a decorated tour in Vietnam earning a
purple heart before donning his wings and flying
through a second tour. In the air is where he
found his niche though and he turned a blade or
two in his nearly 20,000 safe flying hours in
helicopters in the Army, Louisiana National Guard
and for Chevron. He was quite the aviator.
He supported and loved his three kids: Kristi,
Will and Erin; Son-in-law Jeff King,
Daughter-in-law Stephanie Moon and
Granddaughter Kali Mackenzie King. Then later in
life he became king of the open road on a Harley
that whipped wind through his hair and thunder
between his thighs. He was quite the
adventurer.
As captain of the sea, he and his son Will sailed
the ocean blue, charting new territory and making
new friends and family along the way. Before
returning to land he fed his granddaughter her
very first bottle and then settled into the place
he'd come to call home, Bay St. Louis, MS. He was
an awesome Pawpaw.
He lived by the motto, "If you ain't happy doing
what you're doing, change it." In recent years
though, ill health had been a struggle for him but
his family rallied around for support and he
managed his pain the best he could. The ravages of
a storm called Katrina forced him to visit the
place where he'd grown up - Anniston, Al, where he
spent time with his sister Frances Phillips and
her family and he was close with his brother Bud
Moon of Griffin, Ga. and his family. Away from his
home but into a place where he could let go and
find peace - in the Cheaha Mountains of Alabama is
where Bill Moon was called to join his daughter
Erin (1993), his Mother Cora Johnston Moon
Coleman (2003) and his Father William Howard
Moon (1961).
William Wayne Moon, Captain of the land, sea and
air, August 27, 1945 - October 24, 2005
"I don't care if it rains or freezes, long as I've
got my plastic jesus on the dashboard of my truck.
Comes in colors pink and pleasant, glows in the
dark cuz it's iridescent. Take it with you when
you travel far," the gospel according to Bill.
Please donate to any hurricane fund to help
rebuild Bay St. Louis, MS. Dad loved the Bay and
being near the water. There will be no formal
service, Dad didn't want that. Be with the people
you love and hold them close.
CW4 (ret.) William Wayne Moon, was in aviation
second tour in Vietnam in Troop C, 7th Armored
Squadron/1st Air Cavalry in 1971. Louisiana
National Guard units after war included: 812th Med
Co (Air Ambulance) and 1/244th AVN until 1993, 26
total years of service.
From: Kristi King <3kings@charter.net>
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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