Hermann Moyse

Hermann Moyse was born on 11 September 1891 in Saint Gabriel, Iberville County, Louisiana to Simon (1855-1946) and Flora Joseph (1854-1932) Moyse, French immigrants. Moyse was the fifth of six children, Henriette (1880-1973), Jeanne (1882-1938), Carrie (1886-1964), Isaac (1887-1966), and Stella (1894-1974). Simon Moyse arrived in the U.S. in 1873 and was naturalized in 1899; Flora Joseph Moyse arrived separately around the same time. The couple married in St. James Parish, Louisiana in 1880. Simon Moyse was a dry goods merchant, running his own shop in Baton Rouge. In the early 1900s, the family lived in Police Jury Ward 4 (now known as Assumption Parish Police Jury), Louisiana, the 1910s, on River Road in Ward 4. Details regarding Moyse’s early education are unknown; in 1910, he received his Bachelor’s from Louisiana State University;

“Entered the Sub-Freshman Class of the University in ’05. Here his real career began. He was the winner of the Fisher Medal ’05-’06, Member Hill Debating Society ’06-’07, ’07-’08, ’08-’09, ’09-’10, and was the Society’s representative in Commencement Debates ’06-’07, ’08-’09, Winner Garig Medal for Oratory ’06-’07, Winner Alumni Medal ’06-’07, ’07-’08, ’08-’09, Member Reveille Staff ’06-’07, ’07-’08, Editor-in-Chief of Reveille ’09-’10, Member of Gumbo Board ’06-’07, ’07-’08, ’08-’09, Class Football Team’08-’09, Member Tennis Club ’08-’09, ’09-’10. During his military career he has been a Corporal in Company B ’07, Sergeant ’08, Battalion Quartermaster-Sergeant ’08-’09, Lieutenant and Quartermaster ’09-’10. He reached the climax of his glorious career when he was elected “Little Pig” of the Rooters’ Club”.

Moyse returned to LSU for his LL.B, graduating in 1912.

“Graduated in College of Arts and Sciences, 1910. President Athletic Association, 1911-’12. Vice President E.D. White Law Society, 1911-‘12”.

Between 1907-1912, Moyse worked for the Baton Rouge State-Times (Baton Rouge, LA), and served as Editor in 1910 and 1912. Moyse began his tenure as a lawyer after obtaining his LL.B.

Moyse volunteered for Officer’s Training Camp in May of 1917, and was sent to Fort Logan H. Roots in Pulaski County, Arkansas. On 15 August, Moyse made Second Lieutenant, Infantry, Reserve Corps, U.S. Army. He was assigned to Company A, 125^th Infantry Regiment, 32^nd Division on 1 September, then to Company F, 125^th Infantry Regiment, 32^nd Division on 12 October. He was promoted to First Lieutenant on 8 November; Lt. Moyse sailed to France abord the Transport Commercial Steamer Olympic on 11 January, 1918.

From Moyse’s Jewish Servicemen Questionnaire;

“Duties and General Location of Your Organization or Unit Overseas or of Your Ship at Sea: Construction work, Gievres, March, 1918; Training Area, Haute-Marne, April, 1918; Alsace sector, May 15 to July 18; Aisne-Marne Offensive, July 26-August 31, 1918, Argonne-Meuse Offensive, Sept. 26-Nov. 11”.

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“Detached from company Dec. 26^th [1917] and ordered overseas as advance billeting officer for 32^nd division; sailed January 11, 1918, arrived in Liverpool Jan. 18, 1918; arrived at La Harve, France, Jan. 20 1918; billeting work until May 15, 1918, when rejoined company; in trenches in Alsace Sector until July 18, when division was withdrawn and sent to Chateau-Thierry, going hence to Courmont where division took over front line; wounded as stated above […wounded left foot, two toes amputated, left lung and left arm by machine gun and rifle bullets July 31^st, 1918] on July 31^st in making an attack on Jomblettes Woods near Cierges.”

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Lt. Moyse received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions on 31 July 1918 near Cierges, 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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) Herman Moyse, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 125th Infantry Regiment, 32d Division, A.E.F., near Cierges, northeast of Chateau-Thierry, France, 31 July 1918. After advancing through five stages of artillery barrage and machine-gun fire, First Lieutenant Moyse led a patrol of five men forward to capture two machine guns which were endangering the success of the operation. Although seriously wounded in the chest and foot by machine-gun fire, he would not consent to being taken to the rear until the guns had been captured.”

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“Distinguished Service Cross, Croix de Guerre with Palm (French) Division (Thirty-Second) cited by General Pershing for work in Aisne-Marne and Argonne-Meuse Offensives; Division and Regiment (125^th Inf.) cited by General Mangin, commanding 10^th French Army for work at Juvigny, and regimental colors, decorated with Croix de Guerre with Palm, highest honor bestowed upon American Infantry Regiment up to date. See attached citations, etc.”

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“In hospital, convalescent home, etc., August 1, 1918 to November 4, 1918; assigned to Adjutant General’s Office, S.O.S., Tours, as personal assistant to Adjutant General; relieved to rejoin regiment and return with it to America on April 22, 1919; sailed from Brest May 2, 1919; arrived in New York May 9; discharged at Camp Shelby, Hattiesburg, Miss., May 21, 1919”.

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The citation for Moyse’s Croix de Guerre with Palm is currently unknown.

Lt. Moyse and Company F left Brest, France on 2 May 1919 aboard the U.S. Army Transport Ship U.S.S. Great Northern, arriving in Hoboken, 9 May. Moyse was commissioned as a Captain, Infantry, Reserve Corps, 11 June. He was Honorably Discharged on 21 May 1919.

Upon his discharge, Moyse lived with his sister and brother-in-law, Henriette Moyse Sommer (1880-1973) and Leopold Sommer (1874-1981), at 931 Main Street in Baton Rouge. Moyse married Rosalie Gottlieb (1896-1994) in September of 1920 in Baton Rouge; the couple had two children, Hermann, Jr. (1921-2007) and Betty Jean (1927-). In the 1930s-1950s, the family lived at 2250 Oleander Street, Baton Rouge; Moyse was a private attorney for most of his career. In the 1950s, he served as Vice President of American Trust Bank.

Moyse was active in community affairs from the late 1910s-on, including the American Legion, Franklin Elks Lodge, Mothers Pensions and Child Welfare Relief, Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce, Masonic Lodge, Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity (Louisiana State University), Louisiana Bankers Association and Congregation B’nai Israel.

Little else is known of Moyse’s adult life and retirement; he died in Louisiana on 21 November 1985- he is buried at the Jewish Cemetery in Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana.