Major Gaines Mosely

 I know what got me started down the path as a historian of Marines in the First World War--a photo of a Marine on a boat that was floating up the Rhine River.  Rhine River Patrol. What was that?

My intellectual curiosity got the better of me and many years later it resulted in my creating a book about Marines in WWI, serving as the WWI expert for the Corps, ushering several commemorative histories of WWI battles through the publishing process, and organizing a three-day WWI symposium.   All this effort simply because of this photo of then-Captain Gaines Moseley, although at the time, I didn't know his name. 

I was in the middle of final edits on my book when Gaines Moseley's granddaughter came out of the shadows and told me what she knew of him and gave me a name to include before the book was printed.   So let me tell you about Major Gaines Moseley.

Born in Aiken, South Carolina, on 12 May 1875, Gaines Moseley enlisted in the Marine Corps on 25 May 1897 and went through recruit training at Port Royal, South Carolina (today's Parris Island).  By October 1899 he was a Corporal on the USS Brooklyn, and in October 1900 he was promoted to Sergeant.  While at sea, he served in China, Philippines and the Spanish-American War.  He was promoted to First Sergeant on 5 October 1903.

In November 1906, he was deployed to Cuba with the 1st Regiment and served there til January 1909 when he was assigned to Marine Barracks at the Washington Navy Yard in DC.  Our paths cross here as my first job with the Marine Corps was in the Marine Corps Historical Center which occupied the former Marine Barracks in the Navy Yard.  

Moseley continued service at the Navy Yard as part of the USS Dolphin as the NCOIC of the detachment, and then transferred to the USS Delaware until December 1911 when he was transferred to Marine Barracks Charleston, SC.  In August 1912, Moseley deployed once again--this time with the 1st Provisional Regiment that was headed to Nicaragua via the Panama Canal.

Service in Nicaragua complete in January 1913, Moseley was sent to the Recruit Depot at Norfolk, Virginia until December 1914 when he was again on ship--this time the USS Louisiana which was sent to the Dominican Republic.  The ship's detachment was landed and eventually became the 47th Company.

In May 1917, as the Corps rushed to form up two regiments for service in France, the 47th Company returned to the United States and joined the 5th Regiment.  On 13 October 1917, Moseley was commissioned a Second Lieutenant with the 47th Company in France.  Just a few months later, on 5 February 1918, Moseley skipped over First Lieutenant and promoted to Captain.

Fighting through Belleau Wood, Captain Moseley took over command of the 47th Company when company commander Captain Philip T. Case was wounded (his second in the same battle) on 22 June 1918.  July saw the company engaged at Soissons; September in St. Mihiel.  On 4 October, while in the midst of the Blanc Mont battle, Captain Moseley was wounded by gunfire (muster roll and casualty roll conflict as to actual nature of wounds received).
Moseley returned to the company in November 1918 and made the march to the Rhine River with his company. 

As the commander of an "assault company, Moseley displayed exceptional courage in carrying his line forward during a heavy artillery and machine gun barrage" and for this he was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Cross and the Navy Cross.  These were in addition to the third Silver Star citation (today's Silver Star medal) for actions in the same battle.  The first two Silver Star citations were for actions performed at Belleau Wood in June. 

A Marine with years of sea duty was a natural selection for service with the Rhine River Patrol.  This is where we cross paths once again and my interest in WWI Marines and those on the Rhine is first

ignited.  My research into these Marines led me to an article by Al Barnes published in Army History Magazine.  Al, also a native upstate New Yorker, and I have collaborated numerous times on many subjects and I convinced him to write an article for Marine Corps History about the Marines at the end of the war.  He graciously did and I introduced him to Gaines' granddaughter, who I've regrettably lost touch with since.  

But back to Captain Moseley.  He served as the commanding officer of the SS Mosel and Preussen on the Rhine through August 1919 when he was returned to Quantico with the 47th Company.  In October 1919, he was assigned duty as the commanding officer of the Sea-Going Depot at Parris Island.  This was ideal duty for a Marine with so many years and experience as a seagoing Marine.  Captain Moseley remained at the Sea-Going Depot until August 1923 when he was sent to Haiti with the 1st Brigade and served as the Brigade Transportation Officer for the next two years.

Upon returning to the United States in September 1925, Captain Moseley was assigned to the Receiving Ship at New York until he was retired on 11 January 1928, having completed nearly 31 years of service to the Marine Corps.   His medals and decorations are listed as: Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, three Silver Star citations, Spanish Campaign Medal, China Relief Medal, Philippine Campaign Medal, Cuban Pacification Medal, Nicaraguan Campaign Medal, Dominican Campaign Medal, Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal (Dominican Republic), World War Victory Medal, two French Croix de Guerre with Bronze and Silver Star, French Fourragere, and Belgian Order of Leopold II (Chevalier) and the Purple Heart.  In retirement, he was promoted to Major for having been commended in battle.

Gaines Moseley served the Corps as a bachelor for the majority of his career, not marrying until 1923 at the age of 48.  He and his wife had one daughter.  He lived until 30 March 1960 when he passed away in Portsmouth, Virginia, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. 

No matter how much I've read or studied the Marines of World War I, they will continue to have a special place in my heart.  Major Gaines Moseley, you are remembered!