87-year-old Airman receives World War II medal

MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. - Sixty-five years removed from
unknowingly earning the Distinguished Flying Cross, Army Air Corps
veteran Joseph Moser will finally get his hard-earned day in the
limelight.

Mr. Moser, from Ferndale, Wash., will be presented the Distinguished
Flying Cross at McChord's Annual Awards Banquet Thursday night at the
McChord Clubs and Community Center. Two former members of the squadron,
Bob Milliken and Al Mills, will escort Mr. Moser to the stage when it
comes time for the orders to be read.

As a first lieutenant for the 474th Fighter Group during World War II,
Mr. Moser flew a highly successful bombing mission over a heavily
fortified target on July 30, 1944 and earned the Distinguished Flying
Cross. Two weeks later, his P-38 Lightning was shot down over Germany
and he was held as a prisoner of war.  Eventually, the Airman would be
sent to the Buchenwald concentration camp.

Because of misplaced paperwork, Mr. Moser was never presented his
Distinguished Flying Cross. He didn't learn of the award until reading
about it in a squadron diary given to him by a friend in the early
1990s.

After a few unsuccessful attempts by his family to petition state
officials for a ceremony, the effort lost steam.

"I just figured it was lost and that I would never get it," said Mr.
Moser, now 87.

But momentum was re-ignited after author and friend Gerald Baron
discovered the oversight in interviews with Mr. Moser for a book he was
working on. Upon making some connections at a local Rotary Club meeting,
Mr. Baron contacted retired Chief Master Sgt. Rick Arnold, who helped
get the ball rolling again, he said.

"The whole process has been exciting and incredibly rewarding," Mr.
Baron said. "It's exciting to see what (the commitment to awarding the
Distinguished Flying Cross) means to the Air Force."

When Mr. Baron told Mr. Moser that he was finally going to be publicly
acknowledged, the 87-year-old lifetime Whatcom County resident could
hardly believe his ears.

"I thought he was pulling my leg - I didn't really believe it," Mr.
Moser said. "It still hasn't really sunk in - it's quite an honor."

When that honor comes, more than 30 of Mr. Moser's family members and
friends are expected to be on hand to share the historic ceremony.

"They're all really excited," Mr. Moser said. "I've never mentioned much
about what I did in the service. Since Gerald has been writing the book,
they're learning new things about me. It's been real good for me to get
(that information) out."

The Distinguished Flying Cross is awarded to members of the Armed Forces
of the United States who have distinguished themselves in actual combat
in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while
participating in an aerial flight. The first recipient of the
Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded to Capt. Charles A. Lindbergh, of
the U.S. Army Corps Reserve.

-30-

MEDIA ADVISORY - The media are invited to interview Army Air Corps
veteran Joe Moser on Thursday, Jan. 29, from 2:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.  Mr
Moser is taking part of a base tour with friends and family members. The
tour includes a visit to one of McChord's C-17s and a chance to fly in
the C-17 simulator. Two of his World War II squadron mates will "fly"
with Mr. Moser in the simulator. Mr Milliken is a World War II "flying
Ace," and Mr. Mills earned the Distinguished Flying Cross.  Media
wishing to cover the visit need to call 253-982-5637 no later than 3
p.m. Wednesday. Showtime at the main gate for media event Thursday is 2
p.m.

Visit McChord AFB on the internet at: http://www.mcchord.af.mil

v/r,

Dean J. Miller, MSgt, USAF

Chief, Public Affairs

62nd Airlift Wing (AMC), McChord AFB, WA

(253) 982-5637

printer friendly