Finding Aid for the Norman A. Moore Second World War correspondence 2017.277.w.r
Andrew Harman
Center for American War Letters Archives
7/20/2018
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Norman A. Moore Second World War correspondence
source:
Chalman, Kay
Creator:
Moore, Norman Allen, Major
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.277.w.r
Physical Description:
.08 Linear feet
(1 folder)
Date (inclusive): 1942 May 5 - 1945 May 20
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence and other materials pertaining to Maj. Norman A. Moore, USA, during the Second World
War.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 21
Container: 11
Container: 1
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Kay Chalman.
This collection is arranged by material type.
Major Norman Allen Moore, United States Army (10/23/1904 - 9/26/1967) was born in Liverpool, England and moved to Ford City,
Pennsylvania when he was four or five years old. He served with Company C, 112th Infantry of the Pennsylvania National Guard
when it was activated and trained at Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi, Camp Livingston, Louisiana, Camp Maxey, Texas and Fort Benning,
Georgia. During the war he served with the 1st Army, 394th Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division and commanded the 3rd
Battalion through Europe from October 1944 until the end of the Second World War. According to Maj. Moore's own account, he
landed in Swansea, Wales in October 1944 and then landed in La Havre, Normandy, France to take command of the 3rd BN. They
reached the front lines at Losheimergraben, Belgium on November 12.
According to his account, December 16 saw their toughest fighting, which was the first day of the Battle of the Bulge, and
they fell back and continued withdrawing for a few days until they decided to hold tight for six weeks until they were able
to push the German assault back.
After a short trip to London, Maj. Moore returned and continued the battle into an attack on the Ruhr Pocket in Germany, eventually
describing "practically no resistance" as they advanced into Germany. Maj. Moore continued to command the battalion as an
occupation force immediately following VE Day. The 394th Infantry was inactivated in September 1945. Maj. Moore earned the
Silver Star and Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters. He remained in the Army after the war and was assigned to Korea, Japan,
the Pentagon, and Fort Sam Houston, Texas, retiring as a colonel from Fort Jackson, South Carolina on December 15, 1959. He
passed away in San Antonio, Texas in 1967.
The ration book was assigned to his mother Catherine. She lived in Pennsylvania but Maj. Moore and his family, inferred by
the address sent to his daughter Kay, lived in New Jersey. The diary letter is addressed to his wife Betty and Kay.
[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Norman A. Moore Second World War correspondence and other materials (2017.277.w.r),
Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this
collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.
This collection contains correspondence and other materials from Major Norman A. Moore, U.S. Army, during the Second World
War. Included in the correspondence are one V-mail to his daughter Kay, and one letter written in the form of a diary describing
his entire campaign after the censors ended. Also included is one postcard written in German, one ration book assigned to
Catherine Moore, and one 8x10 black and white photograph of Maj. Moore.
Of particular note is the diary letter because it describes in detail the battles that Maj. Moore was involved in, the cities
his battalion crossed or attacked, or even withdrew to, as well as casualties. This includes his involvement in the Battle
of the Bulge, attacking the Ruhr Pocket, the Ardennes, and the push into Germany, as well as notice of 600,000-900,000 Germans
surrendering in Italy just before the end of the war. The account also describes VE Day and the celebrations thereafter.
There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the
responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945)
World War (1939-1945) -- Battlefields -- France
World War (1939-1945) -- Campaigns -- France -- Normandy.
World War (1939-1945) -- Christmas
World War (1939-1945) -- Equipment and supplies
World War (1939-1945) -- Europe
World War (1939-1945) -- Germany
World War (1939-1945) -- Homefront
World War (1939-1945) -- Italy
World War (1939-1945) -- Personal Narratives
World War (1939-1945) -- Photography
World War (1939-1945) -- Victory in Europe Day (VE Day)
World War (1939-1945) -- Belgium
World War (1939-1945) -- England
World War (1939-1945) -- France
Battle of the Ardennes (1944-1945)
Battle casualties
United States -- Army -- European Theater of Operations
Chalman, Kay