To my dad, Harold Moss…
…whose concern for his family back in the states led to the writing of these insightful letters. Through these letters I learned so much about myself, through your eyes. I am so much like you. I think like you. I act like you, and I write like you. And there can be no greater love of a daughter for her father, as I looked at your picture posted on the computer as I transcribed each letter. You were my daily inspiration. I have accomplished my goal if I honor you by this website. Thank you for your service to our country in a time of national emergency and crisis while maintaining the constant vigil of concern for your family back home. The gentle face in the picture must have endured unimaginable hardships of war and death, and yet lives today in peace because of his actions.
To my Grandma Moss (Harold’s mother)…
…who saved and ultimately shared her priceless treasures for the next generations of our family and others. These letters and her scrapbook containing the photos that Dad sent to her in letters, were discovered in the rafters of her garage during her move to Pennsylvania after grandpa Moss’ death in Nebraska in 1951.
To my mother, Dorothy Moss…
…who carted this box of letters with her on each of her moves around the world, as Dad continued his military career for the next 30 years. In an effort to minimize the amount of household goods to be moved each time, much was thrown out, but somehow the box of letters was preserved.
To my son Tony…
…whose vast computer knowledge encouraged me to rekindle my desire to share my dad’s letters with the world. He was able to recover most of the transcribed letters from outdated floppy disks, obtained a domain, and developed the Mossletters website which is amazing given the volume of letters, photos, and other war information I sent his way. Thanks for the experience of working with graphic designers to develop the Mossletters logo! Thus began another exciting journey for me.
To Andrew Carroll…
…although your book had been submitted to the publisher (commemorating the 50th anniversary of World War II) and thus I was too late to submit any of Dad’s letters, you made me aware of the importance of preserving these treasures that will be forgotten or destroyed as these servicemen die.
To my husband Roger…
…for his help whenever I had computer problems, for his patience when I hogged the computer, and his understanding when he was asked to walk the dog, prepare his own meal, or go to bed without me. He knew the importance of these letter transcriptions into book form. My goal was to finish and present it to Dad while he was alive, which I did on Dad’s 85th birthday.
Thank you for this wonderful website, and your willingness to share your family’s history with everyone. I plan to look at all of it at much greater length.
I did want to say that I think two of the photographs in the Hawai’i section are misfiled. The two that are labeled as male and female Native Hawaiians are most certainly NOT individuals of Hawaiian ancestry and were almost certainly not taken in Hawai’i. They most closely resemble photographs taken of indigenous people in the South Pacific, perhaps Guadalcanal, Bougainville, or Papua New Guinea.
Thank you again for all of your work and your generosity in making these resources available.
Aloha to you,
Sara
Thank you for your comment! We found the pictures in his mother’s scrapbook which is not labeled very well and contained a collection of pictures that Dad had included in his letters. For some reason she separated the letter from these pictures, perhaps to share with her friends. Dad never mentioned natives except in a few letters when he was in Hawaii so I put them there. Dad’s college friend was also in the Pacific and was an Army photographer who often gave dad pictures. I do remember mention of Guadalcanal. I will research this further and file them in the proper place. Thank you for visiting our website.
Thank you so much for this great historical piece. Thank your father and family for his/their sacrifice. My parents were kids in occupied China. They had many stories of the Japanese cruelty and barbarism towards kids, mothers and the aged. They immigrated to Vancouver, BC and we’re always thankful to the US defeating the Japanese and liberating their home. Thanks again. I love history.
I always like to hear what was happening in other parts of the world during the war. Your parents must have endured terrible hardships. Sounds like they have stories to tell. Document them and share them with the world.