The Press-Dispatch

B-10 Wednesday, November 11, 2020 The Press-Dispatch EAST GIBSON Submit East Gibson news items: Call: 812-354-8500 Email: egnews@pressdispatch.net or bring in a hard copy: 820 E. Poplar Street, Petersburg Moser participated in four WWII invasions By James Capozella Jerry Moser is a regular diner almost every Sunday after church at the Village Inn in Glezen, driving himself from his apartment at his son's home located just south of Francisco. The 97-year-old World War II combat veteran, having served on two destroyers in four invasions, includ- ing Operation Torch (North A frica) and D-Day (Normandy), turned 97 this past Thursday, November 5. He was born Nov 5, 1923, the son of Ja- cob and Hattie Moser. He was married for 40 years to his wife, Betty, who passed in 1982. He lives with their son, Donald Lee Moser, and his wife, Janice, in Fran- cisco, A first-class apartment is a part of the Moser home, which gives Moser in- dependence to come and go as he choses. Although he graduated from Central High School in Evansville in 1942, he has lived in Owensville, Princeton, Wheeling and Illinois. A fter a nonstop tour during World War II and 40 years of married life, he resides near Francisco on CR 250 S. Of his Gibson County and vicinity growing up years, Moser says, "My mother has al- ways said she is related to or knows half of Owensville." Moser served in the Navy from June 1942 until November 1945, sailing in the far North Atlantic hunting submarines, and then shelling and gathering intelli- gence in North A frica, Sicily, Italy and Normandy. Petty Officer Gerald ( Jerry) C. Moser said, "I wanted to choose my branch rath- er than be drafted." Once in, the service offered him a 50 percent increase in pay if he wanted to be a frogman. "I turned down that 50 percent increase in pay to be a frogman when I found out what they had to do. They asked me and another guy because of our swimming ability." Moser started out as a sonar operator on the destroyer Doran, which he was a crew member at the commissioning. They escorted convoys and searched for submarines in the Atlantic and northern part of the North sea. During that ear- ly part of his enlistment, while steering the ship, he experienced 100 -foot waves. When seas were rough, he learned to steer the ship "because sonar had to be secured." In addition to other duties, Moser then became a certified Helms- man. His ship escorted the largest convoy ever assembled during World War II. Moser served on the destroyer Orleck and participated in the invasions of North A frica, Sicily, Italy and D-day. That ship took him to many shores and locations during the war, including Algiers, Mor- rocco, Casa Blanca, Sicily, Italy and Nor- mandy. In North A frica, his destroyer moved in close to shore and launched six-man boats to gather intelligence on beaches and defenses. They stayed off shore by seven miles to stay out of gun range from the beach defenses. While Moser was joining the Navy, his brothers were activated regular ar- my from 38th National Guard. His broth- er Raymond, older by 12 years, spent the war in France and Belgium, while his brother, Louis (five years older), was in Philippines for seven years. There, he ex- perienced the entire war, including hand- to-hand combat with the Japanese. Moser remembers he and his older brother, Raymond, drove horse-drawn hay wagon across the Wheeling covered bridge to Princeton. "I was about five years old and I still remember that cov- ered bridge. It's a long trip by wagon." Of the farm he grew up on, Moser said, "It was a regular farm. We had corn, hay, a big garden and mom canned everything, We just bought flour and sugar. We had our own meat, hogs, three milk cows and two work horses." He said he rode the river ferry across the Wabash at Mt. Carmel on his way to Owensville before the bridge was built in 1930. He was there for the dedication of the bridge, crossing the Wabash when he was about the age of seven, but remem- bers the ferry crossings at an early age. Moser served on two new destroyers while cruising the Atlantic and then the Mediterranean. The first destroyer was the USS Doran and then came the USS Orleck DD886, which is now a museum on Lake Charles in Louisiana. In Septem- ber 2017, Moser said, "I flew down to the commemoration for the 72nd Anniversa- ry of the Commissioning of the destroyer Orleck." He received a folded flag, which was the one he earlier had raised on the fantail. He also received a certificate at that same time from Ron Williams, the museum director. Moser was the only one to receive a flag at the anniversary commissioning. The flag was sent to him later in a case with an engraved plaque. Moser is a "Plank Owner" on both the USS Orleck and the USS Doran. Jerry Moser and son, Raymond Lee, hold the flag and presentation case presented to Jerry by the Orleck Mu- seum director Ron Williams in 2017. Moser was the only sailor to receive a folded flag on the 72nd Anniversary of the Commissioning of DD886. He hoisted the flag on the fantail of the ship in the morning and was presented the flag later that day by the director. The engraved plate on the flag case listed Moser as a Plank Owner. He also has that distinction from when he was a crew member on the USS Doran earlier in the war. James Capozella photo Amanda Johnson tidies up her camp site at New Lake as she prepares for her family to arrive. Alberta Morris and Charles Edrington "enjoy a pretty November day," as said by Morris, at New Lake in Oakland City. Oakland City plans promotions By Grace Miller On Tuesday, Oct. 27, the Oakland City Council ap- proved promotion ordinance 2020 -10. This ordinance was described as a way to pro- mote economic develop- ment and tourism in Oak- land City. Clerk-Treasurer Brenda Willis said the city would like to take $ 3,000 from the Economic Development In- come Tax (EDIT) fund to promote the town, though nothing has been trans- ferred. The money will be used to pay various people such as firework employ- ees, and to support various organizations and events around town, such as mov- ies and bands in the park to encourage the economy and bring people into the city. Lisa Rebstock and Buddy sit outside to enjoy the nice weath- er while it lasts. Orleck Museum Director Ron Williams presented the folded flag from the USS Orleck 72nd Anniversa- ry of Commissioning on September 15, 2017. The USS Doran is pictured in a magazine show- ing the five-inch guns and crew looking after the new ship in the early part of World War II. The USS Orleck DD886 sails in the open seas in this photo taken during World War II and contained in a keepsake book belonging to Jerry Moser. Kept under glass are some of the insignia, medals, dog tags, a WWII ruptured duck medal and photo- graph of Gerald C. (Jerry) Moser.

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