Page 99 - Stand Down Vietnam

My name is Clifford Darrell Moore, I’m 69 years old; I
growed up in Cynthiana, Kentucky. I went to Harrison
County High School and I quit after my Sophomore year
and went into the military.

I stayed in the Navy for four years active service, 2
years inactive and then I joined the Army and spent 26

years in the Army National Guard. I done that because
I enjoy helping people. I was also on the volunteer
fire department for twenty some years. I just enjoy
helping people and trying to make a difference.

That’s the reason I went to Vietnam, I thought I could
make a difference. I feel like I kinda did.

I was running a little wild, and my mom couldn’t handle
me. I thought I had too many bosses, so I wanted to go
into the military when I was seventeen.

When I went to the enlistment office the Navy guy was
the only one there. So, I joined the Navy.

I had two brothers that served during the Korean War.
One of them had a tank shot out from underneath him
just 48 hours before the cease fire. He laid on the
ground for 24 hours before they ever got to him. He
had three Purple Hearts with two major battle stars.

There were six boys in our family and four of them was
in the military.

The day after I joined, I found out that everybody
wasn’t my boss.

My basic was at Great Lakes, Illinois, in the
wintertime. I didn’t think too much of it; outside
doing push-ups in underwear and a t-shirt with snow up
over your backend.