Hometown: Bisbee, AZ
Branch: U.S. Navy 
Unit: USS Grayback (SS-208) 
Military Honors: Navy Cross (3), Purple Heart 
Date of Sacrifice: February 26, 1944 - KIA 50 nautical miles south of Okinawa, Japan 
Age: 34
Conflict: World War II, 1939-1945 

John Anderson Moore was born on January 10, 1910, in Brownwood, Texas. His family moved to Brisbee, Arizona, just 10 miles from the Mexican border. He left Arizona to attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, where he was a boxer and soccer player. He graduated with the Class of 1932 receiving his commission as an Ensign in June of that year.

Six months later, he and his wife Virginia May (Shaw) were married in San Pedro, California on December 19, 1932, and the couple welcomed daughter Shawla Ann on March 3, 1934.

After post-graduate school at the Academy, Moore first served on the USS Arizona (BB-39). In November of 1934 he transferred to New London, Connecticut for submarine training. After five tours on various submarines, Moore was given command of the submarine USS Grayback (SS-208).

Success of the Grayback

Grayback was one of the most successful combat submarines of World War II (1939-1945), credited with 10 successful combat patrols sinking 14 Japanese ships (63,835 tons).

John A. Moore commanded the Grayback for its last three combat missions, all in the East China Sea. During that time, Moore helped pioneer the American “wolf-pack” submarine tactics that were extremely effective against the Japanese navy in the later stages of the war. His leadership earned Moore a Navy Cross citation for each of the three successful missions.

First Navy Cross citation

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander John Anderson Moore (ASN: 071323), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. GRAYBACK (SS-208), on the EIGHTH War Patrol of that submarine during the period 26 September 1943 to 10 November 1943, in enemy controlled waters of the East China Sea. During this aggressive patrol, Commander Moore made five separate well-planned and brilliantly executed torpedo attacks on escorted enemy ships which resulted in the sinking of an auxiliary cruiser and two freighters. Through his experience and sound judgment he brought his ship safely back to port. His conduct throughout was an inspiration to his officers and men and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Second Navy Cross citation

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Commander John Anderson Moore, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. GRAYBACK (SS-208), on the NINTH War Patrol of that submarine during the period 2 December 1943 to 2 January 1944, in enemy controlled waters of the East China Sea. On the night of 18 - 19 December 1943, Commander Moore contacted a heavily escorted convoy of Japanese freighters. Maneuvering on the surface, he fired into the convoy, sinking one freighter, damaging two others and sinking a gunboat. On the same patrol he contacted another escorted convoy at night and sank three enemy freighters. He followed up with another attack and sank a converted minelayer, then destroyed an armed trawler while departing from the area. Through his experience and sound judgment Commander Moore brought his ship safely back to port. His conduct throughout was an inspiration to his officers and men and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Third Navy Cross citation

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Commander John Anderson Moore (ASN: 071323), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. GRAYBACK (SS-208), on the TENTH War Patrol of that submarine during the period 26 January 1944 to 26 February 1944, in enemy controlled waters of the East China Sea. While conducting the patrol of his ship in Japanese-infested waters, Commander Moore skillfully penetrated strong escort screens to deliver smashing torpedo attacks against hostile shipping. By his daring, aggressive tactics he succeeded in sinking and damaging an important amount of hostile tonnage. The conduct of Commander Moore throughout this patrol reflects great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

On its 10th and final combat patrol, the Grayback left Pearl Harbor for the last time on January 28, 1944. A month later, the sub radioed that it had sunk two Japanese army cargo ships. With only two torpedoes remaining, the Grayback was ordered home. It was expected to arrive at Midway island on March 7, 1944, but was never heard from again. After three weeks, the Navy declared her missing and presumed lost on March 30, 1944.

Finding the lost USS Grayback

After the war, in 1949 the U.S. Navy issued a report on 52 lost American WWII submarines, with approximate locations of where each was lost. The presumed last location of the Grayback was later found to be mistaken, having been based on one incorrect digit in the latitude and longitude taken from a mistranslated Japanese war record.

According to The New York Times:

The error went undetected until last year [2018], when an American undersea explorer asked a researcher, Yutaka Iwasaki, to go through the wartime records of the Imperial Japanese Navy base at Sasebo. The files included daily reports received by radio from the naval air base at Naha, Okinawa—and the entry for Feb. 27, 1944, contained a promising lead.

The report for that day said that a Nakajima B5N carrier-based bomber had dropped a 500-pound bomb on a surfaced submarine, striking just aft of the conning tower. The sub exploded and sank immediately, and there were no survivors.

The Japanese record showed the correct latitude and longitude for the attack, which didn’t match the 1949 U.S. Navy report.

A “Lost 52 Project,” led by undersea explorer Tim Taylor, was a private research group dedicated to solving the mysteries of those submarines in the Navy Report. 75 years after being lost at sea, the wreck of the USS Grayback was found on June 5, 2019—50 nautical miles south of Okinawa and 1,427 feet below sea level.

With the discovery, the Lost 52 Project brought closure to the 80 families of the lost sailors who gave “the last full measure of devotion” to their country.

Legacy

Commander John Anderson Moore rests entombed with his lost crew in the USS Grayback. His name is inscribed on the Wall of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines.

On October 20, 1979, the frigate USS John A. Moore (FFG-19), named in his honor, was launched by the U.S. Navy.

Sources
Naval History and Heritage Command: Grayback I (SS-208)
War History Online: Found: USS Grayback, Final Resting Place of 80 Entombed Sailors
USNA Virtual Memorial Hall: John A. Moore, CDR, USN
The New York Times: Navy Submarine, Missing for 75 Years, Is Found Off Okinawa
U.S. Department of Defense: The Legacy the Recently Discovered USS Grayback Left Behind
Military Times—Hall of Valor: John Anderson Moore
Burial Site: Find a Grave