Denny Moore was born in 1938 in Littleton, Colorado. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy on June 25, 1956, and was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy on June 8, 1960. Ens Moore next completed flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator at NAAS Kingsville, Texas, in November 1961, followed by F-8 Crusader Fleet Replacement Pilot training with VF-124 at NAS Miramar, California, from November 1961 to April 1962. His first assignment was as an F-8 pilot, Line Officer, Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization Officer, and Assistant Operations Officer with VF-191 at NAS Miramar and deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) from April 1962 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on October 27, 1965. After spending 2,666 days in captivity, LCDR Moore was released during Operation Homecoming on February 12, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized at the Naval Hospital in San Diego, California, and then attended Refresher Flight Training with VF-126 at NAS Miramar from October to November 1973, followed by F-4 Phantom II Fleet Replacement Pilot training with VF-121 at NAS Miramar from November 1973 to November 1974. CDR Moore served as Maintenance Officer with VF-51 at NAS Miramar and deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) from November 1974 to July 1975, and during this time he participated in operations during the Fall of Saigon in April 1975. His next assignment was as Safety Officer with VF-121 at NAS Miramar from July 1975 to March 1976, followed by service as Executive Officer of VF-191 at NAS Miramar from March to December 1976. CDR Moore served as Commanding Officer of VF-191 at NAS Miramar and deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea from December 1976 until VF-191 was disestablished on March 1, 1978. His final assignment was at San Diego, where he retired from the Navy on July 1, 1980.

His Silver Star Citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. On 31 October 1965, his captors, completely ignoring international agreements, subjected him to extreme mental and physical cruelties in an attempt to obtain military information and false confessions for propaganda purposes. Through his resistance to those brutalities, he contributed significantly toward the eventual abandonment of harsh treatment by the North Vietnamese, which was attracting international attention. By his determination, courage, resourcefulness, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.