Colonel John F. Moran, Jr. was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School 9 July 1953. His first duty assignment was as Infantry Weapons Instructor, 1st Battalion, 40th Infantry, Korea/Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. | His subsequent duty assignments include:  Infantry Platoon Leader, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, Korea; Commanding Officer, 1st Student Battalion Troop Command, Fort Holibird, MD; Student, Flight School; Platoon Leader, Aviation Company, 5th Infantry Division, Fort Ord, CA; Commanding Officer Airfield Operation Detachment, 52d Transportation B, Airplane, Fort Ord, Ca; Student, Infantry Officers Advanced Class; Platoon Leader, Aviation Company, 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment; Commanding Officer Rifle Company, 1st Battle Group, 28th Infantry, 24th Division; S3 Mechanized Infantry Battalion, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry, 24th Infantry Division; Director of Instruction, Primary Helicopter Center, Fort Woltens, Texas; Commanding Officer, 147th Aviation Company, 1st Aviation Bde, Republic of Vietnam; Chief, Plans, Programs, Aviation Directorate, ACSFOR, Washington, D.C.; ACofS G1, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; Commanding Officer 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; ACofS G-3, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; Student, U.S. Army War College; Student, Presidio of Monterey, CA; Commanding Officer, 2d Brigade, 3d Armored Division USAREUR. | His awards and decorations include: Bronze Star w/ Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal w 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, ARCOM with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, Republic of Vietnam Silver Cross with Palm, Army Aviators Badge, General Staff Identification Badge, Meritorious Service Medal.