VOICES OF VALOR: Fond Memories of a World War II Hero

The late World War II veteran Walter “Waldo” Moskey holds photos of his time in the U.S. Army. He served from 1942-45. (File Photo)

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — World War II veteran Walter “Waldo” Moskey lived a full life.

Moskey, who died July 27, was a 101-year-old U.S. Army Air Corps veteran who served from 1942-45. During the war he was stationed in Italy, where he flew over 60 missions as a tail gunner and bombardier.

Born in 1922 in Acosta, Pennsylvania, Moskey was among a family of seven who were all orphaned. Moskey ended up being adopted by George and Sue Meyers. After being adopted, Moskey grew up in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania.

As an adult after the war, he found work in the Ohio Valley. He was employed by Consolidation Coal Co., where he retired in 1984.

“After the Army he went to work. He worked over at the Georgetown Preparation Plant in Cadiz until he retired in 1984,” Moskey’s son, Robert “Bob” Moskey, said.

“He taught us right from wrong,” Robert Moskey added.

Robert is the owner and operator of Bob’s Auto Body Sales in St. Clairsville and an Army veteran like his father. Robert served from 1970-72, and his brother Charles is an Army Reserve veteran, serving from 1964-70.

The military family also bonded over their shared love of NASCAR. Robert said Walter was a huge fan of Dale Earnhardt, while Robert actually raced cars. Robert, who is 72 years old, said he has been racing cars since the late 1960s.

Walter was always supportive of his son’s racing passion, helping him work on the cars and attending his races.

“He would go to NASCAR races and would go to the local race scene with me,” Robert recalled.

Robert would race regionally on dirt tracks, which was a hobby he and his father could enjoy while spending time together. The Moskey family would travel across the tri-state area for Robert’s stock car races,

“He drug that car all over Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio,” Walter’s friend and commander of the St. Clairsville VFW Joe Petro said.

In addition to being passionate about racing cars, Moskey also made homemade wine and gardened.

Petro said that although Walter was 101 years old, his mind was still as sharp as ever.

“His body got old, but his brain did not,” Petro said. “He was functioning up until the last second.

“I just stopped and saw him a few days before and he was on top of the world, he was doing crosswords and all kinds of stuff,” Petro continued.

Petro added that while he was visiting Moskey, Waldo shared an observation with a nurse who was giving him medicine.

“You can’t make an old body into a new one,” Moskey said.

Moskey lived about 100 yards away from the St. Clairsville VFW, which made him like family to his fellow members.

“Anytime we had anything we’d go get him even when he got to where he couldn’t get around. He lived about 100 yards away from here, so we’d just run over there or if we were having something we’d take him a meal. If we were having a fish fry in the spring during Lent, we’d just take him the fish down,” Petro said. “We enjoyed his company, but all things must come to an end I suppose.”

The St. Clairsville VFW considered Moskey a cornerstone of the post. He was once the trustee for the post for several years on and off due to term limits of holding a position at the post. According to all accounts, Moskey was a very well liked individual who was very supportive of the VFW and his friends and family.

“There was a huge crowd at the funeral home. When you live 100 years, a lot of people know you,” Petro said.