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Captain, Helicopter Pilot D TRP, 3rd SQDN, 5th Cavalry, 1st Aviation BDE, USARV
Army of the United States
August 1, 1945 - January 3, 1970
Stewart Moody was one of two young Claremont men who died in the Vietnam War. After graduation from CHS, Stewart attended Claremont Men's College on an ROTC scholarship. He was a second-generation Army officer who served in the 1st Aviation Brigade and went down with his helicopter January 3, 1970, at the age of 24. Stew loved the Army, flying and helicopters. He was an aircraft maintenance officer (pilot) who had the huge responsibility of testing and certifying repaired copters for operational use. One day his luck ran out when the helicopter he was testing failed and crashed in Sa Dec Province, South Vietnam. He died serving his country and safe-guarding the lives of the men who would have flown in that copter.
You can see his information on the virtual Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall:
http://www.virtualwall.org/dm/MoodySR01a.htm
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Daniel S. Schafer
I think I first met Stew through my parents who were friends with his. We had some classes together and goofed off when the opportunity presented itself; we’d talk, laugh and push each other around like boys do. Stew could be intense at times (sports, study) but always had an easy smile, without a doubt a nice guy. His father was a career Army officer and that was always Stew’s ambition too. He loved the Army, loved flying helicopters and volunteered for Vietnam. Stew went to Vietnam not too long after I had returned from there. We exchanged a few letters while he was overseas and he was always upbeat and excited about his combat flying adventures, including many close-calls. In the end his career and sense of duty cost him his life…but knowing Stew, I don’t think he would have had it any other way. Semper Fi Stew, you won’t be forgotten. Dan
Captain, Helicopter Pilot D TRP, 3rd SQDN, 5th Cavalry, 1st Aviation BDE,
US Army August 1, 1945 - January 3, 1970
You can see his information on the virtual Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall:
http://www.virtualwall.org/dm/MoodySR01a.htm
Benedict (Benny) Heyer
I knew Stu Moody as a classmate and a friend. We hung out together and ran Cross Country. Stu was a nice, unassuming guy. He never had a bad word to say about anyone. I remember once when we were running Cross Country, I helped him pin a sign to the back of his jersey that read,"I may be slow but I'm ahead of you!" We were always thinking up ways to psych out the other runners..
I visited the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington,DC, in 1985. I found the name of my cousin, Sgt. Edward Heyer, who was KIA in Vietnam in 1967. Also the name of Captain Stewart Robbins Moody on the Wall. I broke down and cried along with many others who were visitng the Wall that day. You both died too young. Rest in Peace Ed and Stu.
All Americans need to visit the Wall to see what this war cost in human lives.
Stu,
Can I tell how I first saw Vietnam. It was from the deck of a destroyer. We were 1300 yards off the coast of some part of Vietnam. The crew were never told exactly where we were. Anyway, from deck of the ship I could see a sandy white beach with the jungle coming right up to the beach. It was beautiful! It was late afternoon and there was a warm breeze blowing, suddenly I got this overwhelming urge to jump overboard and swim to the beach. I didn't do it but I knew I could have made it. That night the destroyer opened up with its two five inches guns pounding the beautiful beach and continued firing to early dawn. At the first light of day, I could still see smoke coming from the near by jungle. I just stared and ask myself why are we doing this to this beautiful land. What did they do to us to make us want to do these things. I though, this is wrong, I should not be here. The United States shouldn't be here doing this to these people and their beautiful beaches.
I wonder if you had the same feeling while flying the helicopter that day. Looking out from your vantage point and seeing all the beauty of the country and wondering why am I doing this?
Your friend,
Benny
Jan McDaniel (Ponce)
I was so saddened by the passing of Stu, he was my friend. In Washington DC,I viewed his name on the Viet Nam Wall. I think of him often.
Phillips Lacy
Stew was a friend and teammate. He was always upbeat. I remember that Eska Larson told me that Stew had the best looking legs on teh basketball team, according to a bunch of the senior girls.
Shortly after I got home from Western Samoa I remember opening the evening Progress Bulletin on day and seeing Stew's picture and the news that he had been killed in Viet Nam.
When I was in Washington, D. C. in 1989 I visited the Viet Nam Memorial and found Stew's name. I hope everyone gets a chance to visit the Wall and find Stew's or other friends and loved ones names.