Bob Moss, born in Niagara Falls, NY, graduated from La Salle High School in 1961. In October, he and three classmates
joined the US Navy and left for Boot Camp in Great Lakes, IL. After completing Boot Camp, Bob was assigned to the Naval Air Station at North Island, San Diego, California. He worked in the personnel office with an Air Anti Submarine Squadron (VS-25).
In October, 1962, his squadron moved onto the Aircraft Carrier USS Yorktown (CVS-10), affectionately called the Fighting Lady. They left for a Far East Cruise visiting many ports including Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Yokosuka Japan, Sasebo Japan, Kobe Japan, Hong Kong, Subic Bay Philippines and Manila Philippines. Some of the many sites he enjoyed visiting were the Red China Border, Victoria Peak, the Floating Village in Hong Kong, the USS Arizona and Pineapple Plantation in Hawaii. In March, 1962, The Fighting Lady participated in the first below surface (Submarine) to surface Nuclear Test off Christmas Island in the Pacific. Bob remembers being over ten miles from the spot of the explosion and within minutes the ship felt like it was picked up and shook for about 20 seconds.
While Bob was never in combat, the Viet Nam War was heating up and several of the Marine contingent planes on his ship returned after flights over Viet Nam with bullet holes in the planes. Not long after Bob returned from his six month cruise he was assigned to Pami Pack Fleet in San Diego until his Honorable Discharge in August 1965. A few of his friends had their service time extended one year because of the escalating Viet Nam crisis, but, Bob had already been accepted and enrolled in college, so he was discharged two months early.
He graduated from Bismarck College in North Dakota under the GI Bill. After college Bob worked for Holiday Inns and Resorts. In 1983 he purchased Eduserve, an education food service company, which he sold in 1996.
Bob met his wife, Ellen, through mutual friends and they were married in Cinnaminson in 1973. Thirty five years later they have three wonderful daughters and six energetic grandchildren. Several years ago while on vacation in Charleston, SC, Bob and Ellen visited the USS Yorktown, which is now a museum. They toured the ship and had lunch in Bob’s old mess hall. Memories...Memories...
