MOON WILLIAM WAYNE

CW4 William Wayne Moon was a potential VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 10/24/2005 at the age of 60.2 from Liver disease
Mandeville, LA
Flight Classes 70-23 and 70-21
Date of Birth 08/27/1945
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with INFANTRY in 68, C/7/1 CAV in 71
This information was provided by Kristi King (daughter)

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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