A local resident is attempting to debunk the moon landing conspiracies with his own first-hand experiences. 

Dick Ross, 93, says he worked at Kennedy Space Center in Florida for three years and was provided a medallion to honor his contribution to the program that put a man on the moon in 1969

“To all the people who think it was a hoax, it was not,” said Ross. “I responded to an ad for someone who could do maintenance. For the next three years, I worked at the space center. Each day, we’d be given an assignment. We did a variety of different jobs. I was one of those working behind the scenes and I’ve got many stories from my time there.”

For the last 50 years, conspiracy theorists have contended all or some of the elements of the Apollo program and the moon landings were hoaxes staged by NASA.

“There was too much work involved for it to be a hoax staged like a Hollywood production,” said Ross. “Once, I worked 32 hours straight. Why put so much effort into something if it’s not real? That makes no sense.”

Ross and the rest of the crew were allowed to watch the takeoff. 

“No one was allowed to be within three miles, but I was in the grandstands watching it take off,” said Ross. “The ground shook. It was impressive to watch it take off. Each of the guys were given a medallion for their part in the project. I’ve held onto mine since that time.”

Inscribed on the back of the medal, “This Medallion contains metal from spacecrafts Columbia and Eagle, that took Astronauts Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins on their historic Apollo 11 mission that results in the first landing of man on the Moon.” 

On its front, “The Eagle Has Landed July 20, 1969” depicts an astronaut on the moon.

Ross was born in Montana and relocated to Warren County 22 years ago. His father Ralph was born and raised here.