Spirit of service drives Coast Guardsman to lead by example

"In my opinion, it (African-American history) wasn’t taught that well. I learned more from my wife because she’s a history major. It short changes them a lot because they don’t know. They don’t know where they came from. What they don’t know, they can’t appreciate," said Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Darrell Moore

SAN PEDRO, Calif. - “It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break; the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.”

Those words of service cut through the hearts of millions of Americans on the bitterly cold day of Jan. 20, 2009, during President Barack Obama’s inaugural speech. It is in this spirit of servitude that Petty Officer 2^nd Class Darrell Moore lives his life, both to his country and community.

“I take the teenage boys under my wing and try to show them things about life,” said Moore. “A lot of the boys I encounter are hungry for a mentor, they’re always searching for someone to look up to.”

Moore began mentoring young kids through his church when he was just a kid himself, at age 14. Along with his role of helping kids, he is also a Marine Science Technician and serves as a pollution investigator for Sector Los Angeles – Long Beach.

“I see it as just sharing the knowledge. I see myself as successful and my future looks bright. So if I can give the kids the secrets to my success, they can go out and do what I’ve done and more,” said Moore.

Had it not been for Moore’s parents mentorship and guidance, his future may not have been so bright. He and his four siblings were born and raised in Compton, Calif., a place where many kids lose sight of their dreams.

“It was pretty bad but I never went outside the confines of my house.”

To help his son be successful, Moore’s father enrolled him in a school in Downey, Calif.

“My younger brother was a hot head and started getting into some of that stuff cause he went to school in Compton. He just liked that crowd, but he changed.”

A change brought about by Moore’s first mentoring project, his little brother.

“To see that I can affect his life by my decisions, it was awesome,” recalled Moore. “The mentorship can start young, and hopefully be contagious.”

Moore’s passion for helping kids find their way is cemented in the realization that a huge need for mentors exists. But it’s his ability to mix in life lessons among video game duels and fishing trips that has made him an effective one.

“They are hungry, you can see it in their eyes, but sometimes they don’t have the hope. It’s about just giving them hope," explained Moore. "I like to show the kids there is opportunity."

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