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LTC Clarence “Martin” Moses

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LTC Clarence “Martin” Moses Veteran

Birth
Burnet, Burnet County, Texas, USA
Death
1 Nov 1943 (aged 38)
Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines
Burial
Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA Add to Map
Plot
MH, 0, 240
Memorial ID
View Source
Executed, by the Japanese at the La Loma Cemetery in Manila while a Prisoner of War.

Martin Moses (Service No. O-016924) graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY, with the Class of 1927 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry.

When the Japanese attacked the Philippines on 8 December 1941, Moses was Commanding Officer of the 12th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Army, part of the 11th Philippine Army Division. This Division was the first unit of the Philippine Army to encounter the enemy. During the period 8 December 1941 to 5 January 1942, Lieutenant Colonel Moses was serving with the 12th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts. During that time, LTC Moses was cited for his extraordinary heroism against the Japanese without the least regard for his own personal safety and for courage, energy and efficiency of the very highest order as Commander of the 12th Infantry, Philippine Army, at San Juan, La Union, on 21 December 1941; at Guagua and Lubac, Pampanga. 4 January 1942; and at other times and places too numerous to mention. However, all occurred during the period 8 December 1941 to 5 January 1942, when his Regiment was almost continuously in combat with the Japanese, receiving fire from both ground and air. In one critical situation after another, while under dangers and difficulties of inconceivable magnitude, and while LTC Moses' Regiment was progressively, completely disintegrating in action, LTC Moses carried on with courage and fortitude that were an inspiration to both subordinates and superiors alike. LTC Moses’ courageous actions and and inspiring leadership during those months day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

On Luzon, Philippine Islands, from 8 December 1941 to March 1942, LTC Moses was responsible for the skillful and intensive training of cadres of the 11th Division upon the mobilization of the Philippine Army. Subsequently as Commanding Officer, 12th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Army, LTC Moses led his forces with superior technical ability in providing strong resistance to the initial major landings of the Japanese invaders in Lingayan Gulf.

LTC Moses then commanded his Regiment in a brilliant delaying action during the withdrawal to the south, and later held a flank beach defense position in Bataan Peninsula. Deploying his troops along the important front of the Philippine Corps, LTC Moses dealt the enemy many destructive blows in the bitter struggle against overwhelming odds. Through LTC Moses’ leadership, aggressive fighting tactics, and sound knowledge of infantry tactics, he made a notable contribution to the heroic defense of the Philippine Islands. For Lt. Col Moses’ exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, he was awarded the Legion of Merit.

"United States Army Forces in the Philippines--Northern Luzon (USAFIP-NL). Having escaped from Bataan, Lt. Col. Martin Moses and Lt. Col. Arthur "Maxie" Noble founded their guerrilla command in the northern mountains near Baguio. They contacted Philippine Army commanders in the area who had refused to surrender and guerrilla organizers from Col. Thorp's organization, and began to plan a major strike against the Japanese. On October 15, 1942, they attacked the Japanese-owned Itogon Mines near Baguio and held the area for more than a week. The Japanese counter-attacked with infantry and tanks and drove the guerrillas back into the mountains, then took heavy reprisals on the civilian villages in the area. Moses and Noble retreated into headhunter country, and began to collect intelligence data to send to General MacArthur. They were tracked down by the Japanese and captured in June 1943, then executed." Source: http://www.bataandiary.com/Research.htm

Lt. Col. Moses was captured in 1943 and held at Bilibid Prison. He was executed by the Japanese on 1 November 1943.

“Late in the morning of Friday, *October 8, 1943, Bilibid prisoners who looked out one of the windows overlooking the prison’s stone-paved courtyard witnessed a gloomy sight. Most turned away, because to watch could attract retaliation from the guards. The few who did watch saw a line of twenty-six almost naked American and Filipino men, their wrists tied to a common length of chain, falter across the courtyard toward two trucks waiting at the main gate. The men had been undressed to the undershorts, or Japanese G-strings in some cases, and each man’s head was covered with a bayong, a native bag mad of woven palm leaves.

At noon on that cool, cloudy day at the La Loma Cemetery on the northeast outskirts of the city, one of the trucks unloaded its cargo. Japanese guards led fifteen hooded men, including, Colonels Martin Moses and Arthur “Maxie” Noble, inside the walls. They closed the cemetery gates. Passersby heard a series of shots."

The other truck went to the nearby Chinese cemetery where the other five Americans, including Colonels Claude A. Thorpe and Hugh Straughn, and four Filipinos, including Colonel Guillermo Nakar were executed.
Source: From Bataan to Safety – The Rescue of 104 American Soldiers in the Philippines by Malcom Decker (McFarland & Company, Inc. 2008), pages 153-154
*American Battle Monuments Commission have their date of death as 01 November 1943.

Medals, Awards and Badges
Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Legion of Merit with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
Prisoner of War Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
World War II Victory Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Martin Moses (ASN: 0-16924), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism against the enemy without the least regard for his own personal safety and for courage, energy and efficiency of the very highest order as Commander of the 12th Infantry, Philippine Army, at San Juan, La Union, on 21 December 1941; at Guagua and Lubac, Pampanga. January 4, 1942; and at other times and places too numerous to mention but all occurring during the period December 8, 1941, to January 5, 1942, his regiment being almost continuously in contact with the enemy under fire from ground and air. In one critical situation after another attended by dangers and difficulties of inconceivable magnitude, his Regiment progressively and completely disintegrating in action, Major Moses carried on with courage and fortitude that were an inspiration to both subordinates and superiors alike. Lieutenant Colonel Moses' intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

The remains of Lieutenant Colonel Martin Moses have never been recovered. He also has a cenotaph at the Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia.

Military Information: LTC, US ARMY
Executed, by the Japanese at the La Loma Cemetery in Manila while a Prisoner of War.

Martin Moses (Service No. O-016924) graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY, with the Class of 1927 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry.

When the Japanese attacked the Philippines on 8 December 1941, Moses was Commanding Officer of the 12th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Army, part of the 11th Philippine Army Division. This Division was the first unit of the Philippine Army to encounter the enemy. During the period 8 December 1941 to 5 January 1942, Lieutenant Colonel Moses was serving with the 12th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts. During that time, LTC Moses was cited for his extraordinary heroism against the Japanese without the least regard for his own personal safety and for courage, energy and efficiency of the very highest order as Commander of the 12th Infantry, Philippine Army, at San Juan, La Union, on 21 December 1941; at Guagua and Lubac, Pampanga. 4 January 1942; and at other times and places too numerous to mention. However, all occurred during the period 8 December 1941 to 5 January 1942, when his Regiment was almost continuously in combat with the Japanese, receiving fire from both ground and air. In one critical situation after another, while under dangers and difficulties of inconceivable magnitude, and while LTC Moses' Regiment was progressively, completely disintegrating in action, LTC Moses carried on with courage and fortitude that were an inspiration to both subordinates and superiors alike. LTC Moses’ courageous actions and and inspiring leadership during those months day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

On Luzon, Philippine Islands, from 8 December 1941 to March 1942, LTC Moses was responsible for the skillful and intensive training of cadres of the 11th Division upon the mobilization of the Philippine Army. Subsequently as Commanding Officer, 12th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Army, LTC Moses led his forces with superior technical ability in providing strong resistance to the initial major landings of the Japanese invaders in Lingayan Gulf.

LTC Moses then commanded his Regiment in a brilliant delaying action during the withdrawal to the south, and later held a flank beach defense position in Bataan Peninsula. Deploying his troops along the important front of the Philippine Corps, LTC Moses dealt the enemy many destructive blows in the bitter struggle against overwhelming odds. Through LTC Moses’ leadership, aggressive fighting tactics, and sound knowledge of infantry tactics, he made a notable contribution to the heroic defense of the Philippine Islands. For Lt. Col Moses’ exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, he was awarded the Legion of Merit.

"United States Army Forces in the Philippines--Northern Luzon (USAFIP-NL). Having escaped from Bataan, Lt. Col. Martin Moses and Lt. Col. Arthur "Maxie" Noble founded their guerrilla command in the northern mountains near Baguio. They contacted Philippine Army commanders in the area who had refused to surrender and guerrilla organizers from Col. Thorp's organization, and began to plan a major strike against the Japanese. On October 15, 1942, they attacked the Japanese-owned Itogon Mines near Baguio and held the area for more than a week. The Japanese counter-attacked with infantry and tanks and drove the guerrillas back into the mountains, then took heavy reprisals on the civilian villages in the area. Moses and Noble retreated into headhunter country, and began to collect intelligence data to send to General MacArthur. They were tracked down by the Japanese and captured in June 1943, then executed." Source: http://www.bataandiary.com/Research.htm

Lt. Col. Moses was captured in 1943 and held at Bilibid Prison. He was executed by the Japanese on 1 November 1943.

“Late in the morning of Friday, *October 8, 1943, Bilibid prisoners who looked out one of the windows overlooking the prison’s stone-paved courtyard witnessed a gloomy sight. Most turned away, because to watch could attract retaliation from the guards. The few who did watch saw a line of twenty-six almost naked American and Filipino men, their wrists tied to a common length of chain, falter across the courtyard toward two trucks waiting at the main gate. The men had been undressed to the undershorts, or Japanese G-strings in some cases, and each man’s head was covered with a bayong, a native bag mad of woven palm leaves.

At noon on that cool, cloudy day at the La Loma Cemetery on the northeast outskirts of the city, one of the trucks unloaded its cargo. Japanese guards led fifteen hooded men, including, Colonels Martin Moses and Arthur “Maxie” Noble, inside the walls. They closed the cemetery gates. Passersby heard a series of shots."

The other truck went to the nearby Chinese cemetery where the other five Americans, including Colonels Claude A. Thorpe and Hugh Straughn, and four Filipinos, including Colonel Guillermo Nakar were executed.
Source: From Bataan to Safety – The Rescue of 104 American Soldiers in the Philippines by Malcom Decker (McFarland & Company, Inc. 2008), pages 153-154
*American Battle Monuments Commission have their date of death as 01 November 1943.

Medals, Awards and Badges
Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Legion of Merit with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
Prisoner of War Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
World War II Victory Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Martin Moses (ASN: 0-16924), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism against the enemy without the least regard for his own personal safety and for courage, energy and efficiency of the very highest order as Commander of the 12th Infantry, Philippine Army, at San Juan, La Union, on 21 December 1941; at Guagua and Lubac, Pampanga. January 4, 1942; and at other times and places too numerous to mention but all occurring during the period December 8, 1941, to January 5, 1942, his regiment being almost continuously in contact with the enemy under fire from ground and air. In one critical situation after another attended by dangers and difficulties of inconceivable magnitude, his Regiment progressively and completely disintegrating in action, Major Moses carried on with courage and fortitude that were an inspiration to both subordinates and superiors alike. Lieutenant Colonel Moses' intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

The remains of Lieutenant Colonel Martin Moses have never been recovered. He also has a cenotaph at the Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia.

Military Information: LTC, US ARMY

Inscription

LTC US ARMY
WORLD WAR II



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