John Moon

John Moon is one of the pioneering paramedics of the historic Freedom House Ambulance Service, widely recognized as the nation's first paramedic-based emergency medical service. He began his EMS career in 1972 after witnessing the extraordinary work of Freedom House crews while employed as a hospital orderly. Selected by Dr. Peter Safar, one of the founders of modern resuscitation, John became the first paramedic to perform an endotracheal intubation in an operating room and is credited with performing one of the first successful paramedic field intubations in the United States. When the City of Pittsburgh transitioned to a municipal EMS system in 1975, John was among the few Freedom House paramedics who continued their careers with Pittsburgh EMS. Over the next 34 years, he rose through the ranks to retire as Assistant Chief of the Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS. During his career, he developed the department's first diversity recruitment program and became the first African American in Pittsburgh Public Safety to earn Master Scuba Diver certification. Today, John is a nationally recognized speaker and passionate advocate for preserving the legacy of Freedom House Ambulance Service. Through lectures, documentaries, conferences, and educational outreach, he shares the remarkable story of the African American men who revolutionized prehospital medicine and laid the foundation for modern EMS. His firsthand experiences continue to inspire EMS professionals while ensuring the history of Freedom House remains an integral part of the profession's future.