Veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Colonel - United States Army. Graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point(1940). Commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Coast Artillery Corps.

Married Flora Gordon of Wharton, Texas, on September 22, 1940. Their honeymoon was his first military assignment to the Philippine Islands. In September 1941, Flora was evacuated back to the United States in anticipation of the Japanese invasion. While serving as Executive Officer of Battery C, 91st Coast Artillery, his anti-aircraft unit was credited with shooting down the first Japanese planes over the Philippine Islands. Taken as a prisoner of war in Corregidor, he was incarcerated at Cabanatuan prison camp near Manila and later sent to the Island of Mindanao. After two years, he was transferred, along with 749 other prisoners to a series of Japanese prison ships assigned to transport them to Japan. Seventeen days out of port, the American submarine, USS Paddle intercepted and torpedoed the ship (Shinyo Maru)on September 17, 1944. Morris was able to escape the ship and swam out to sea in order to survive. Saved by friendly aborgines on a Japanese held island, he united with a band of Filipino resistance fighters. He fought alongside them against the Japanese until being evacuated from the island by the USS Narwhal.

Recipient of the Legion of Merit, Silver Star, two Purple Hearts and two Bronze Stars.

Preceded in death by his wife, Flora; his parents, Harry and Annie Shoss; his sister, Minnie Ladin; and his brothers, Herman and David Shoss.

Information extracted from obituary in San Antonio Express News, August 8, 2004.
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Morris L. Shoss
Home of record: Austin Texas
Status: POW

AWARDS AND CITATIONS
Silver Star
Awarded for actions during the World War II
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Coast Artillery Corps) Morris Loeb Shoss (ASN: 0-22973), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with Battery C, 91st Coast Artillery Regiment, Philippine Scouts, in action at Fort Mills, Philippine Islands, on 12 April 1942. When a heavy enemy artillery bombardment on his battery position caused injuries to several men of the battery, Lieutenant Shoss, acting beyond the call of duty and without regard for his personal safety, left a place of shelter and proceeded to a telephone in the battery commander's station to call for an ambulance, and then assisted in evacuating the wounded men to a place of safety, during all of which time shells were bursting nearby, one being a direct hit on the top of the station in which Lieutenant Shoss was telephoning. First Lieutenant Shoss' gallant actions and selfless devotion to duty, without regard for his own safety, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, Philippine Coast Artillery Command, General Orders No. 29 (April 24, 1942)
Action Date: April 12, 1942
Service: Army
Rank: First Lieutenant; Company: Battery C
Regiment: 91st Coast Artillery Regiment
Division: Philippine Scouts
Prisoner of War Medal; Awarded for actions during the World War II
First Lieutenant (Coast Artillery Corps) Morris Loeb Shoss (ASN: 0-22973), United States Army, was captured by the Japanese after the fall of Corregidor, Philippine Islands, on 6 May 1942, and was held as a Prisoner of War until his successful escape from the Cabanatuan POW Camp on 7 December 1944.
Action Date: May 6, 1942 - December 7, 1944
Service: Army
Rank: First Lieutenant
Division: Prisoner of War (Philippine Islands)