Chairman Diaz honors 100-year-old WWII veteran for service

Left to Right: Chairman Jose “Pepe” Diaz greets Sgt. Gerard G. Moss and his wife, Mrs. Carol Moss, before the Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, May 17. Sgt. Moss was presented with a proclamation for his bravery and exemplary service during World War II. (Photos by: Armando Rodriguez/Miami-Dade County)

MIAMI-DADE – Chairman Jose “Pepe” Diaz prime sponsored a resolution honoring 100-year-old Sgt. Gerard G. Moss for his brave and exemplary service during World War II, which passed at the Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, May 17. There was also a special presentation honoring Sgt. Moss, which proclaimed Tuesday, May 17, 2022, as Sgt. Gerard G. Moss Day in Miami-Dade County.

“We honor a very special County resident – World War II veteran Sgt. Gerard G. Moss. He came to the United States after the war and has been a resident of Miami-Dade County since 1958. The accomplishments that he has done in his life, there’s not enough room to list them all in this proclamation. He has been an outstanding man, son, and father. He has done so much for all of us. We want to thank him for everything,” said Chairman Diaz.

Born in Germany, at 16 years old, he was captured and sentenced to Dachau concentration camp. During his month-long internment, he witnessed many atrocities before his family and friends were able to arrange for his release and subsequent escape to Palestine. He opted to return to Europe and volunteered to join the British Army, where he was placed in an infantry squad and assigned to the Greek islands.

“This is so unexpected, and I’m so honored to be here and to participate with you in your festivities. Let’s pray for peace in Russia and Ukraine. It scares me because I don’t want to go through that all over again. We must come to our senses and make peace. I’m proud to be here with this beautiful group, and I thank the organizers that called me up for this recognition,” said Sgt. Moss.