Texas Rangers, Texas
End of Watch: Thursday, December 12, 1918
Age: 32
Tour of Duty: 1 year, 1 month
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Duty related illness
Date of Incident: November 24, 1918
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
The Spanish Influenza of 1918 killed millions of people throughout the world. The Texas Rangers were required to maintain order and enforce quarantine laws in force throughout the state. Privates Robert Ernest Hunt and Ben L. Pennington of Company L were sent to El Paso to assist health inspectors with the Spanish Influenza quarantine. Pennington contracted Spanish Influenza on October 7 and died on October 12, 1918. Hunt contracted the disease on October 10 and died on October 15, 1918.
John A. Moran enlisted in Company A of the Texas Rangers on November 1, 1918. He was assigned to the Ranger camp at Alice in Jim Wells County. His death certificate notes that a doctor was attending him as of November 24, 1918, and he died on December 12, 1918. His death certificate lists him as a State Ranger who died of influenza. The newspaper noted that he contracted influenza while on duty in Falfurrias in Brooks County, and returned home where he developed pneumonia and died.
John A. Moran was born on January 22, 1886 and was 32 years of age when he died. He was single. He was buried in the Crosby Cemetery in Mason County. He was survived by his father and siblings.