Herman Moskowitz

Herman Moskowitz was born to Sarah Lorber (1860-1914) and Louis Moskowitz (1840-1903) on 11 June 1893 in Hicksville, Nassau, New York. Herman Moskowitz was the elder of two children to Lorber and Moskowitz (second child, Max, 1898-?), but had a step-brother, David Haskell (1886-1961), from his mother’s first marriage to Moses Haskell (1853-?). After Louis Moskowitz’s death in 1903, Lorber married Chaskel Frost (1857-1920). Sarah Lorber Haskell Moskowitz Frost was born and immigrated from Zboró, Hungary, now Zborov, Slovakia.

The family lived in Manhattan, New York (124 Ridge St.); Moskowitz moved to Passaic, New Jersey in the late 1900s, where he boarded at a house on Passaic St. and worked as a time keeper and payroll clerk at Botany-Worsted Mills, a textile manufacturer. Moskowitz may have attended New York University’s School of Commerce, graduating in 1917 with a bachelor’s in Commercial Science (unconfirmed).

Moskowitz’s enlistment data is unknown. He was assigned to Co. C, 312^th Infantry Regiment, 78^th Division, AEF, serving continuously as a Private First Class. PFC and Co. C left Brooklyn, New York aboard the U.S. Army Transport Ship Port Melbourne on 20 May 1918. PFC Moskowitz received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions on 17-21 October 1918 near Talma Hill, France;

“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private First Class Herman Moskowitz (ASN: 2414791), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company C, 312th Infantry Regiment, 78th Division, A.E.F., near Talma Hill, France, October 17 – 21, 1918. As a runner Private Moskowitz displayed exceptional courage and devotion to duty in frequently volunteering and carrying messages through dangerous zones in addition to his regular duties. Though lame as the result of an accident, he carried a number of messages through a heavy barrage until he was severely wounded by a bursting shell.”

The extent of PFC Moskowitz’s wound(s) is currently unknown; he later received the Purple Heart and (supposedly) British Military Medal OR British Distinguished Conduct Medal. PFC Moskowitz and St. Aignan Casual Co. No. 981 left Brest, France aboard the U.S. Army Transport Ship Agamemnon in March of 1919. Moskowitz was Honorably Discharged on 1 April 1919.

Upon his discharge, Moskowitz boarded at a house on Pennington Ave, Passaic, where he worked as a public accountant. On 25 June 1922, Moskowitz married Alice Hugo (1894-1990) in Paterson, New Jersey- the couple had two children, Sylvia (1923-2013) and Lawrence (1930-).

“Miss Hugo, who is a graduate of Passaic High School, was a popular member of the younger set in this city. The groom is a graduate of New York University, and was formerly president of the Young Men’s Hebrew Association.”

In the 1930s, the family lived at 288 Pennington Ave., the 1940s, 59 Band St. Moskowitz worked as a public accountant for the remainder of his career, at one point, his office was held at 657 Main Avenue, Passaic. Moskowitz was involved with the American Legion (Garald V. Carroll Post), Jewish War Veterans Association (Preiskel-Miller-Glassberg), Legion of Valor, American Institute of Accountants, Temple Emanuel, New Jersey State Society of Certified Public Accountants, Amelia Lodge of Odd Fellows, and the Free Masons (Equity Lodge).

In the late 1940s, the family lived at 86 Boulevard, Passaic, where Moskowitz died of a heart ailment on 13 July 1949; he is buried at Riverside Cemetery, Saddle Brook, New Jersey.

Alice Hugo Moskowitz died in 1990, outliving her husband by forty years.