LIVINGSTON COUNTY

LIVINGSTON COUNTY VETERAN OF THE YEAR 2006

ED MOORE

of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1224, Hamburg

Ed Moore was born in Ohio, and at age 12 moved to Lansing, Michigan with his family, where he graduated from high school in 1963.  In the fall of 1964 he enlisted in the Army, and did his basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and his advanced training at Ft. Dix, New Jersey.  He first duty station was in Germany with the 83^rd Field Artillery.  From there in December 1966 he was transferred to the Americal Division in Vietnam, and attached to the 3^rd Battalion of the 18^th Field Artillery. During the Vietnam War Ed was stationed out of Chu Lai in the middle of Vietnam, but he traveled all over the country in a small combat squad of which he was the Sergeant in charge.  In a combat operation in July 1967 an enemy rocket came in and exploded near him, and he woke up with severe disabilities three months later in a hospital in Japan.

Ed remained in the Army with his disabilities for a career as a recruiter and career counselor, and he was in charge of recruiting operations in a several state area.  He won many performance awards for his recruiting work for active duty service, reserves and the National Guard, including the Gold Recruiter Badge with 3 Sapphire Stars, and the Distinguished Recruiting Ring.  After twenty years of service he retired as a Master Sergeant out of the Old Guard in Ft Meyers, Virginia, that guards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  His decorations and medals include the Purple Heart, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medals, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Bar, Aircraft Crewman Badge, as well as the recruiter awards. 
In December 1968 Ed married Constance Kay Johnson, who he met back in the U.S. after beginning his recruitment assignment.  Together they raised two sons and a daughter, Edward Moore III, Estella Syers, and Robert Moore, and there are now eight grandchildren.  His wife Constance passed away in 1999 after struggling with severe heart problems.  When Ed retired from the service he was part-time on crutches and part- time in a wheelchair, but the VA only gave him a 20% service-connected disability rating, and it took him five years of bureaucratic struggles to be awarded the 100% service-connected disability that he deserved.  During this time he worked as a tax collector and area manager in Lansing on behalf of the State of Michigan, and after ten years stopped working in 1999 when his wife died.

Ed is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and became active in the year 2000 at the VFW 6464 Post in Fowlerville where he served terms as jr. vice and sr. vice commander, and then served as post commander for two years.  During this time he served in many other capacities, including the buddy-poppy chairman, bingo chairman, and on the September 11, 2000 remembrance committee, the 4^th of July fireworks committee, and participated in preparing Post dinners for public fundraisers, and in parades. In 2004 Ed transferred to the VFW Post 1224 in Hamburg.  He is currently the Post Commander there and has served for two years in that position.  He is also the buddy-poppy chairman, bingo chairman, and regularly works at the Post’s Friday fish fry’s and Sunday breakfasts for the public.  He participates in all the Post’s military funeral ceremonies for veterans and presents the flag to the next of kin.  He drives veterans to and visits them at the VA hospital, takes part in collecting clothes for homeless veterans, and collects items to send to troops overseas.  Ed has served as chaplain for the Livingston County Veterans Council, and participates in their meetings and events honoring veterans.  He is also currently serving as the jr. vice commander of the 6^th VFW District in Michigan.  He is also a life member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Disabled American Veterans, and American Legion.In other activities, Ed is a certified bowling instructor, and for twelve years has coached kids ages 4 through 17 in bowling leagues through the schools.  In any spare time that he has he likes to go camping and fishing, and especially likes to spend time with his grandchildren. For all of his service to veterans, community and country the Livingston County Veterans Council, comprised of the 24 veterans and auxiliary organizations in the county, has elected Ed Moore to be the Livingston County Veteran of the Year 2006.