Staff photo / J.T. Whitehouse Purple Heart recipient Jim Moon, 84, of Canfield, displays the watch his children presented him, which shows a Purple Heart on the face.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of a series published each Monday between Memorial Day and Veterans Day honoring local veterans. To nominate a veteran, email metro editor Marly Kosinski at mkosinski@tribtoday.com.

CANFIELD — July 4, 1953, is a date that U.S. Army veteran Jim Moon will never forget. That is the day he was wounded by artillery fire during the Korean War.

Moon grew up on the North Side of Youngstown and attended North High School. He would have graduated in 1954 but, at age 16, decided to join the Army.

“I got fed up with school and with things not going good,” he said.

Moon enlisted Nov. 4, 1952, and was sent to Camp Breckenridge, Ky., for training. After a short time, he was shipped off to Korea with the 40th Infantry.

In Korea, he was handpicked as one of 14 young men who were to go on a four-day mission near the now-famous Heartbreak Ridge, where he was among the guards who set up along several ridges. Splitting into two-man teams, Moon and his partner took turns sleeping as they guarded the front lines.

“My buddy woke me up and said there was some North Koreans sneaking up on us,” Moon said. “I jumped up, grabbed my rifle and started firing.”

The battle escalated and before long, the enemy artillery started up with 81 mm shells striking the American line. Moon took shrapnel to the leg when a shell exploded nearby.

“When it went off, the shell shook the whole ground,” he said.

Moon and several others were taken to the nearby field hospital for treatment. A chaplain told the injured young men that he was planning on sending them back to the states. Near the end of July a truce was signed, but instead of going home, Moon and several others were reassigned to the 7th Calvary heading to Japan.

In Japan, Moon’s unit was stationed on the farthest north island of Hokkaido. Moon had been issued the Purple Heart at age 17 for his effort in Korea, and he wore it to Japan.

“In Japan, a sergeant pulled me aside and told me cheap imitation Purple Hearts could be purchased in a store and that I could be court marshalled for wearing one,” Moon said. “He told me a Purple Heart had to be earned. I told him to look at my service record.”

Moon continued in Hokkaido and moved up to staff sergeant. He enjoyed Japan and the chance to talk and mingle with a different people while learning about them.

After Japan, Moon’s outfit returned to the states, and he was eventually honorably discharged at Fort Devens, Mass.

After he was discharged, he married his high school sweetheart, Eleanor. They enjoyed the next 59 years together, raising five children: Susan, Marjorie, John, Jim and Tim.

Moon had no problem getting civilian work and was hired by Youngstown Sheet and Tube as an electrician. He continued to work there for the next 31 years and then went to North Star Steel for 12 years before retiring.

Moon lived in Boardman for 27 years before moving to Canfield in 1997. He has since been able to visit some of his buddies from the 7th Calvary. He eventually received his diploma from North High after he was discharged.

Today, he is proud to have five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Moon said he is living a good life, despite the pain he suffered from the exploding shell.

“I would do it all over again,” he said.

Jim Moon

AGE: 84

RESIDENCE: Canfield

SERVICE BRANCH: U.S. Army 40th Infantry and 1st Calvary

MILITARY HONORS: Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart

OCCUPATION: Mill maintenance / electrician

FAMILY: Wife, Eleanor (deceased); sons, John, Jim and Tim (deceased); daughters, Susan and Marjorie; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.