John Gould Moyer
Encyclopedia
John Gould Moyer was an United States Navy
Rear admiral
, and the 31st Governor of American Samoa from June 5, 1942 to February 8, 1944. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, but lived in both Indiana
and Hawaii
for much of his life. Moyer was admitted to the United States Naval Academy
on June 16, 1910, and became an Ensign shortly upon graduation. He became a Commander in 1934, a Captain in 1939, and eventually a Rear admiral
. During his governorship, Moyer recommended the tour of duty of the men under his command be reduced, and took over command of the United States Marines barracks previously under the control of Brigadier general
Henry Louis Larsen
.
in Indiana
. Moyer lived in Delphi, Indiana
for much of his early life. He died in Honolulu, Hawaii
at the age of 82.
on June 16, 1910. As an Ensign
, he served on the USS South Carolina (BB-26)
in 1917.
He was promoted to the rank of Commander in 1934, and President of the United States
Franklin Roosevelt recommended Moyer for the rank of Captain in 1939. He eventually became a Rear admiral
, and retired on June 30, 1949.
for military personnel in American Samoa be reduced from 18 to 12 months, believing that "the climate is bad for most Caucasians". As the Pacific War
drew westward, Moyer took control of the United States Marine barracks on the island, a command previously held by Henry Louis Larsen
, a man with the short-lived position of Military General of Tutuila
. Moyer ceded the office to Captain Allen Hobbs
on February 8, 1944.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
Rear admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
, and the 31st Governor of American Samoa from June 5, 1942 to February 8, 1944. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, but lived in both Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
for much of his life. Moyer was admitted to the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
on June 16, 1910, and became an Ensign shortly upon graduation. He became a Commander in 1934, a Captain in 1939, and eventually a Rear admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
. During his governorship, Moyer recommended the tour of duty of the men under his command be reduced, and took over command of the United States Marines barracks previously under the control of Brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
Henry Louis Larsen
Henry Louis Larsen
Henry Louis Larsen was a United States Marine Corps Lieutenant General, the second Military Governor of Guam following its recapture from the Empire of Japan, and the first post-World War II Governor of Guam. He also served as the Military Governor of American Samoa alongside civilian Governor of...
.
Life
Moyer was born in Chicago, Illinois. He was born to Eva Gould Moyer; his grandfather was a longtime district judgeUnited States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. Moyer lived in Delphi, Indiana
Delphi, Indiana
Delphi is a city in and the county seat of Carroll County, Indiana, United States. Located twenty minutes northeast of Lafayette, it is part of the Lafayette, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area...
for much of his early life. He died in Honolulu, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
at the age of 82.
Naval career
Moyer was admitted to the United States Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
on June 16, 1910. As an Ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
, he served on the USS South Carolina (BB-26)
USS South Carolina (BB-26)
USS South Carolina , the lead ship of her class of dreadnought battleships, was the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the eighth state, and was the first American dreadnought or all-big gun battleship....
in 1917.
He was promoted to the rank of Commander in 1934, and President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Franklin Roosevelt recommended Moyer for the rank of Captain in 1939. He eventually became a Rear admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
, and retired on June 30, 1949.
Governorship
Moyer took the office of Governor of American Samoa on June 5, 1942. During his governorship, Moyer suggested the tour of dutyTour of duty
In the Navy, a tour of duty is a period of time spent performing operational duties at sea, including combat, performing patrol or fleet duties, or assigned to service in a foreign country....
for military personnel in American Samoa be reduced from 18 to 12 months, believing that "the climate is bad for most Caucasians". As the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
drew westward, Moyer took control of the United States Marine barracks on the island, a command previously held by Henry Louis Larsen
Henry Louis Larsen
Henry Louis Larsen was a United States Marine Corps Lieutenant General, the second Military Governor of Guam following its recapture from the Empire of Japan, and the first post-World War II Governor of Guam. He also served as the Military Governor of American Samoa alongside civilian Governor of...
, a man with the short-lived position of Military General of Tutuila
Tutuila
Tutuila is the largest and the main island of American Samoa in the archipelago of Samoan Islands. It is the third largest island in the Samoan Islands chain of the Central Pacific located roughly northeast of Brisbane, Australia and over northeast of Fiji. It contains a large, natural harbor,...
. Moyer ceded the office to Captain Allen Hobbs
Allen Hobbs
Allen Hobbs was the 32nd Governor of American Samoa from February 8, 1944 to January 27, 1945. Hobbs was born on July 30, 1899 in Lowell, Massachusetts. His mother was a sculptor named Louise Allen Atkins, and his grandfather Charles Herbert Allen, the first American Governor of Puerto Rico...
on February 8, 1944.