HAROLD C. MOYNELO, JR., ENS, USN
Harold Moynelo, Jr. '45
Lucky Bag
From the 1945 Lucky Bag:
Harold Clifton Moynelo, Jr.
Washington, D.C.
From the hubbub of life in Washington. D. C, Hal came to the country club on the Severn, Bancroft Hall. His main ambition, that of wearing a Naval Academy ring, has been realized. Whatever he did he did in a big way, as his intramural sports' opponents quickly found out. When it came to dragging, he not only led the field but also played it. He liked them all, blondes, brunettes, and redheads: and the feelings were mutual. Variety, evidently, is the spice of life. Equally at home on an athletic field, in a bull session, or at a social function, he made a host of friends and will continue to do so.
Battalion Lacrosse 4, 3, 1; Battalion Pushball 3, 1; Spanish Club 4, 3; Boat Club 4, 3, 1; Radio Club 3, 1.
The Class of 1945 was graduated in June 1944 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Harold Clifton Moynelo, Jr.
Washington, D.C.
From the hubbub of life in Washington. D. C, Hal came to the country club on the Severn, Bancroft Hall. His main ambition, that of wearing a Naval Academy ring, has been realized. Whatever he did he did in a big way, as his intramural sports' opponents quickly found out. When it came to dragging, he not only led the field but also played it. He liked them all, blondes, brunettes, and redheads: and the feelings were mutual. Variety, evidently, is the spice of life. Equally at home on an athletic field, in a bull session, or at a social function, he made a host of friends and will continue to do so.
Battalion Lacrosse 4, 3, 1; Battalion Pushball 3, 1; Spanish Club 4, 3; Boat Club 4, 3, 1; Radio Club 3, 1.
The Class of 1945 was graduated in June 1944 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Loss
Robert was lost at sea when USS Indianapolis (CA 35) was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine on July 30, 1945.
Harold is mentioned several times in a recounting of the aftermath of the sinking.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Harold graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1939. Born: Charlotte, North Carolina. Famous for: His zest for outdoor life, and his happy-go-lucky philosophy.
In 1940, his father Harold and brother Andres were salesmen for a wholesale radio company. His mother and sister were both named Elizabeth.
He has a memory marker in Georgia.
Photographs
From his high school yearbook
Remembrances
From In Memoriam, from Woodrow Wilson High School, 1946 (via Doug Hayman '56 via email on May 4, 2024):
Harold graduated from Woodrow Wilson in June, 1939, and from the Naval Academy in 1944. Ordered to the U.S.S. Indianapolis, he saw service with the ship in the Carolines and in the Okinawa and Iwo Jima campaigns. Then came the torpedoing of the ship on its run from Guam to the Philippines. Captain McVay, in command on the fatal run, wrote that Harold was uninjured when he landed in the water and "worked constantly . .. to rescue men in difficulty. On several occasions he gave away his own life jacket to support other men, finally collapsing himself from exhaustion, and later he died peacefully in his sleep."
From Hall of Valor:
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Ensign Harold C. Moynelo, Jr. (NSN: 0-389853), United States Navy, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroic conduct during World War II
General Orders: American Battle Monuments Commission
Action Date: World War II
Service: Navy
Rank: Ensign
Other
A collector has Harold's posthumous Purple Heart.
Related Articles
Robert Billings ’45 was also lost in the sinking.
John Cummins '45 was also in 10th Company.
James Spencer '43 also graduated from Woodrow Wilson high school in Washington, D.C., though Harold was two years behind James.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
