Episode 14 -- Bill Moon

From the Jim Crow-era Mississippi Delta to the EECOM console in the MOCR, Bill Moon brings his amazing story to this episode of the podcast.

SHOW NOTES:

*Bill's dad immigrated from China to California, where he picked fruit and worked as a cook in the mines before settling in Mississippi.

*At just 10 years old, Bill was working long hours in his family's store. He also helped out at a neighboring shop, where he was paid the princely sum of $5 a day. At such a young age, he was entrusted to take deposits of thousands of dollars to the bank.

*Bill did learn to work the system, and traded box tops from his family's store for bicycles, BB guns and roller skates!

*Although he grew up in the darkest days of the late 1950s Jim Crow era in Mississippi, Bill says he never experienced any overt racism.

*Bill's acceptance continues at Mississippi State, where he is a charter member of the school's Acacia social fraternity.

*After going to work for McDonnell Aircraft out of college, Bill goes to Houston to visit his brother and submits another application to NASA. This time, he accepts the offer he receives.

*The tracking ship Bill is on stays out at sea so long following the Gemini 8 crisis that it runs out of food, and the crew is forced to throw fishing lines over the side. The ship then overshoots its port by a couple of hours.

*The evolution of Bill's career takes him back to Houston, where he first works in the Staff Support Room before training "side saddle" to EECOM Sy Liebergot during the flight of Apollo 14.

*Bill gets his chance to shine as lead EECOM during the final two lunar landings, Apollos 16 and 17. Yet while Bill might have been the lead EECOM, it was John Aaron who worked the launches. Wonder why?!?

*Where Bill learned from John Aaron and Sy Liebergot, he was able to return the favor and serve as a mentor to others later on in his career, including none other than Go, Flight co-author Milt Heflin.

*As Bill transitioned into management, he did miss operations in the front room.

*Although Bill was the first minority to work in the MOCR, it's not something upon which he dwelt or took advantage of.

*Bill says he's not a very humble guy, when in fact, he is.

*Bill discusses his work as president of the Apollo Flight Operations Association.