Derace Moser

Robert Derace Moser (February 5, 1920 – November 19, 1943) was an American football player. He played college football for Texas A&M from 1939 to 1941 and was selected as a first-team All-American in 1941. He served in the military during World War II and was killed in the collision of two B-17 Flying Fortresses in November 1943.

Derace Moser
Personal information
Born:February 5, 1920
Erath County, Texas
Died:November 19, 1943 (aged 23)
Hillsborough, Florida
Career information
College:Texas A&M
Position:Halfback
Career highlights and awards

Early years

Moser was born in 1920 in Erath County, Texas.

Texas A&M

He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies football team from 1939 to 1941, including the 1939 national championship team. He was selected by the Newspaper Enterprise Association as a first-team halfback on the 1941 College Football All-America Team.[1]

As a senior, Moser led the 1941 Texas A&M Aggies football team to the Southwest Conference championship. He ranked among the nation's leading passers, completing 67 of 166 passes for 912 yards. He also ranked among the nation's leaders with 1,250 yards of total offense (912 passing and 338 rushing yards).[2] He was also selected as the most valuable back in the Southwest Conference for the 1941 season.[3][4]

Military service

In May 1941, and following the United States' entry into World War II, Moser was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army Air Forces.[5] He received his degree from Texas A&M while being processed at Perrin Field.[6] By the summer of 1942, Moser had been transferred to Chanute Field in Illinois where he was appointed as the field's assistant physical training officer.[7][8][9]

In September 1942, he played for the college all-star team in a charity football game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Moser passed 35 yards to Fred Meyer for the all-stars' lone touchdown in the game.[10]

By March 1943, Moser was a flying cadet at the Brady Aviation School at Blackland Army Air Field in Waco, Texas.[11]

In June 1943, while stationed at Waco, Moser was reported missing during a flight. He had made an emergency landing at Waxahachie, Texas.[12][13]

Moser died in November 1943 in a mid-air collision of two B-17 Flying Fortresses east of MacDill Field in Florida. Moser was the co-pilot of one of the planes. A total of eight men died in the crash.[13] He was the second member of the 1939 Texas A&M football team to be killed in the war.[14]

At a memorial held at Texas A&M for Moser, coach Homer Norton said: "Derace was a great boy, a great athlete, a great leader. I have always classed him as one of the best athletes I ever coached."[13][15]

References
  1. Harry Grayson (November 21, 1941). "Duke's Lach Makes NEA All-America Team". The Rock Hill Herald.
  2. The Official 1942 Football Guide, p. 62.
  3. "Most Valuable Men". The Bryan Eagle. December 8, 1941. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "R. Derace Moser '42". Texas A&M Lettermen's Association. Archived from the original on February 4, 2015. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  5. "Ag Gridders In Service". Valley Morning Star. April 5, 1942. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Moser of Aggies at Perrin Field". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. May 22, 1942. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "All For Moser". The Eagle. July 27, 1942. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Derace Moser Is Still Great Grid Man, Fans Think". Longview News-Journal. July 19, 1942. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Derace Moser Goes to West Army Grid Squad". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. August 8, 1942. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Eagles Beat All Stars; Moser Gets Touchdown". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. September 1, 1942. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Lt. Derace Moser Training at Brady". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. March 25, 1943. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Moser Bobs Up Again". San Angelo Standard-Times. June 28, 1943. p. 6.
  13. "Aggie Students Pay Tribute To Ex-Gridder Dead in Crash". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. November 21, 1943. p. II-3 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "Derace Moser Dies In Plane Crash In Florida; 2nd Member 1939 Aggie Team To Die In War". The Eagle. November 20, 1943. p. 1 – via Newspapers.coma.
  15. "A&M Pays Respects to Grid Star Moser With Silver Taps". Austin American-Statesman. November 21, 1943. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
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