ANOTHER HERO LOST TO TIME

By DELL ARTHUR

America has lost another hero this past week with the death of Joe Moser who died at the age of 94. Moser may not be a household name but his experiences during World War II earned him one of the highest decorations awarded to an airman—the Distinguished Flying Cross, second only to the Congressional Medal of Honor. His exploits and endurance's during combat can only be remembered as incredible.

As a 22-year old First Lieutenant he flew the famed twin-engine Lockheed P-38 fighter-bomber in Europe and as a member of the 429^th Fighter Squadron his mission was to destroy German convoy troops and equipment moving up to counter attack the Allied troops following the Normandy invasion.

But on his 44^th mission his luck ran out and he was shot down over France. He had dropped down to about 200 feet and lined up with a road where there appeared several enemy trucks parked in a row. It was a trap! The Germans had hid anti-aircraft guns in the woods waiting for some unsuspecting fighter to take the bait. And sure enough Moser fell for it. The German fire riddled his airplane and set afire one engine. With the remaining “good” engine running at full power he managed to climb to about 3000 feet, rolled the airplane on its back and safely ejected. This was no simple feat since the twin-boom fighter was noted for snagging pilots trying to bail out. Usually the unfortunate airman’s parachute caught on the horizontal stabilizer so using his head Moser elected to flip the plane over, eject the canopy, push with all his might with his feet against the seat and safely get out.

When he landed he managed to elude the enemy soldiers but only for a short time. Finally he was caught and taken to a local French jail where he languished for a few days before being taken along with about 170 other American airmen to a rail yard where they were to be transferred to Germany. All of the men thought they were going to be held in a prison of war camp but what they faced was more dramatic and repulsive than they could have ever imagined. Rather than being detained by the German Luftwaffe the prisoners were turned over to the Gestapo.

Forced into cattle cars the men had little or nothing to eat or room to maneuver. If lucky a person could find room to sit down but that was about it. The doors of the cars were bolted shut and German sentries rode atop to make sure no one could escape. Anyone trying would immediately be shot.

After arriving at their destination the men were shocked to learn that this was no POW camp—it was the famous death concentration camp Buchenwald!

Herded inside the electric wires surrounding the camp Moser was shocked at what he saw. Corpses lying outside buildings and inmates in rags, with little flesh on their bones staring at the new arrivals, he wondered what kind of a place this was. None of the inmates appeared to be military men.

For the next eight months and two weeks Moser would be in the hands of these vicious killers and there appeared no hope.

Moser recalled one incident when he and a group of other American airmen were being marched across the compound escorted by an armed German soldier. The guard who spoke English, offhandedly pointed to the crematory chimney and commented that the only way he and his fellow captives would ever leave the camp would be as ashes!

Buchenwald was designed as a “work camp.” However, working in the camp usually meant that the prisoners would be underfed, overworked and usually died in a short time from illness or starvation. When Moser entered the camp he weighed a little over 180 pounds. During the time he was held captive he lost 40 pounds. Records later recovered indicated that he and his companions were scheduled to be executed. He was only days from facing a firing squad.

But then a miracle happened.

The area surrounding the concentration camp had been heavily bombed by the Americans. As it happened two German Air Force Luftwaffe officers visited the camp and surrounding town to examine the bomb damage. Receiving permission to visit the camp they ran into the American airmen. Taking a chance which could have resulted in instant death one of the American pilots who spoke fluent German broke ranks and approached the German airmen. He told them that he was an American flyer and he and the others were being held as prisoners. He told them that they were not allowed to be treated as prisoners of war but as criminals—all against the Geneva Convention.

Since they were held as prisoners there was no record forwarded to the Allies. The men were simply considered by the Americans as “missing in action.” Their fate would never be known.

Even though they were enemies there was a certain degree of chivalry between them. Airmen were airmen and even in combat there remained a certain respect for each other. The German officers said that they couldn’t promise anything but they would do all they could to help the captured men.

The Gestapo was adamant that Moser and his comrades would never leave their control but a few days later orders came down and Moser and the others were taken to a barracks where the clothes they had been captured in was returned. Then they were released to the Luftwaffe where they were transported to a prison of war camp. The camp they were taken to was no picnic but at least they were given food, Red Cross packages and the Americans notified that they were alive.

Finally the camp was freed by the advancing American infantry. When questioned by Army military intelligence Moser said they couldn’t believe the experience he had endured. Since there was no official record his account of captivity his account was ignored. It wasn’t until sometime after the war when German records were examined that proof of Moser’s account was verified. But by that time people lost interest.

Like so many military men who fought in World War II, Moser was reluctant to talk about his experiences. Even the award of the Distinguish Flying Cross was delayed 63 years before being officially certified. Yet this mild-mannered American was grateful to return home and resume a normal life.

But one thing for sure—he never forgot the horrors of the Buchenwald concentration camp nor the comradeship of the two Luftwaffe officers who saved his and his friends lives.