You are getting two projects called "Moonbeam" mixed up. Again, these two amateurs did their work before the project you mentioned existed.
The amateur "Project Moonbeam" done by W4AO and W3GKP in 1953. This bounced radio off the Moon.
And the Project Vanguard "Moonbeam" which wasn't started until 1956 to fund amateur HAM operator projects. You even quoted that Project Vanguard started in 1955.
https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4202.pdf
The enthusiasm of amateur star-gazers over the opportunity to have a part in an important scientific venture early impressed the USNC's Executive Committee. Here evidently was a simple way of widening public interest in the IGY both at home and abroad. In response to the committee's suggestions that the men in charge of other phases of the IGY open the doors to amateur participation, in early 1956 the technical panel authorized "Moonbeam" for ham radio operators
Oh, so now you have two different Project Moonbeams for radio hams, one which is funded by the military and one which you think is independent, and which both take place within the few years of each other. How absurd. It says in the caption of the first image I provided "after three years of trying". These projects take years.
You quote doesn't even say that it was started in 1956. It says "in early 1956 the technical panel authorized 'Moonbeam' for ham radio operators;". That doesn't say that it was started in 1956. It says that they authorized it for something.
Names like Project Moonbeam and Project Vanguard are clearly military-style project names.
Actually, it is you who are once again mistaken by failing to line up the historical record in the right order. As JSS just pointed out, you have the wrong dates. The amateur moonbounce was in 53', pre-dating any NRL affiliation by 2-3 years. So again, what about their amateur moonbounce echo test do you disagree with and why? And please pay special attention to facts.
I do pay attention to the facts. You don't. If you had gone to the link JSS provided you would see what it was authorized for. The quote continues with a semicolon. Here is the whole thing.
"The enthusiasm of amateur star-gazers over the opportunity to have a
part in an important scientific venture early impressed the USN C’s Execu-
tive Committee. Here evidently was a simple way of widening public inter-
est in the IGY both at home and abroad. In response to the committee’s
suggestions that the men in charge of other phases of the IGY open the
doors to amateur participation, in early 1956 the technical panel authorized
“Moonbeam” for ham radio operators
; the Naval Research Laboratory
accepted responsibility for indoctrinating licensed applicants in the essen-
tial do’s and don’t’s, chiefly by means of a descriptive and technical manual
to be prepared by John Hagen. At the same time Whipple agreed to draft
instructions for Moonwatch teams."
So no. It, doesn't say it was started in 1956. You aren't paying attention. Do learn what a semicolon is, and do read the sources that you are trying to champion. You are continuously wrong, and should do something to change that.