Martin Moses was born on March 12, 1905, in Burnet, Burnet County, Texas, the son of Dayton and Daisy Fisher Moses. He married Alice Evaline Ferrel, and together they had three children. A 1927 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he served with several infantry regiments, including the 38th Infantry at Fort Sill, the 35th Infantry in Hawaii, and later as an instructor at Texas A&M. In 1938, he was assigned to the 57th Infantry (Philippine Scouts).

By December 1941, Martin Moses was in command of the 12th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Army, part of the 11th Division under Brig. Gen. William Brougher. His regiment became the first Philippine Army unit to confront the Japanese invasion, engaging the enemy from Lingayen Gulf through fierce battles at San Juan, La Union, and Guagua, Pampanga. Leading a series of skillful delaying actions, Moses displayed exceptional courage, tactical brilliance, and leadership that earned him high commendation. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on December 19, 1941, and continued to fight gallantly in Bataan.

After the fall of Bataan, Moses refused captivity. Alongside Lt. Col. Arthur “Maxie” Noble, he organized guerrilla forces in Northern Luzon, launching raids, including an attack on the Japanese-owned Itogon Mines in October 1942, and providing intelligence to General MacArthur’s headquarters. Captured in June 1943, he was imprisoned at Bilibid and later executed by the Japanese on November 1, 1943, at La Loma (North) Cemetery in Manila, along with other American and Filipino officers. His remains were never recovered. Lt. Col. Moses is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery, and he has a cenotaph at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, weremember.abmc.gov, West Point Association of Graduates