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Colonel <em>Charles “Moe” Cavender </em>passed away on 9 August 1995 at Air Force Village West, Riverside, California. He was buried at the Riverside National Cemetery on 14 August followed by a Memorial Service held at AFVW, attended by his many friends. A small, family service commemorating his life was held at the mortuary. Two ministers were there, his daughter, Sarah Viney, and her son. Moe was a loyal member of the West Point Society of The Inland Empire and Palm Springs since its inception and was featured as the Oldest Graduate speaker at their annual Founders Day gathering for the past five years.</p>
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Moe had a long and full life and a successful military career. Born on a farm near Grapevine, Texas, on 2 October 1897, he grew up in a large family—four sisters and five brothers. After secondary school and a year working for the Ft. Worth Star Telegram newspaper and Denver Railroad, Moe entered Texas A&M College in 1916. While a sophomore he volunteered for service in the Army and was assigned as a private to the 5 th Infantry Division. While participating in the Battle of St. Mihiel, he received a Battalion Citation and was promoted to private first class. While in the Meuse-Argonne sector he was nominated to compete with 450 other applicants from the AEF for appointments to West Point. Moe passed the examination and was sent to the Academy along with 18 other candidates. Early in his “kaydet” days he was given the name “Moe” by a classmate and carried this sobriquet for the rest of his life.</p>
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Moe graduated with 261 of his classmates on 12 June 1923 after a graduation address by General of the Armies John J. Pershing. Assigned to the Infantry, he embarked on a 30-year career serving world wide. While at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas, he married Carolyn Patrick of Evansville, Indiana, on 31 August 1924. Their only child, Sarah Janet, was bom there on 1 November 1925. After a series of infantry assignments, Moe was transferred to The Adjutant General Branch and assigned to Atlanta, Georgia, in order to enter the Command and General Staff School at an earlier date. In 1941 he was assigned to the Adjutant General’s Office in Washington, where he was instrumental in setting up the Transportation Corps of the U.S. Anny. In 1942, he finally convinced his superiors to release him to a combat assignment.<br />
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Moe was assigned to the newly activated “Golden Lion” 106th Infantry Division as Commander of the 423rd Infantry Regiment. The division sailed for England on the Queen Elizabeth in October 1944. Moving to the Continent on Thanksgiving Day, the 106th was posted to the Ardennes, where Moe’s 423rd occupied a thinly held line seven miles wide. He was assured that this sector would be quiet. Five days later, on 16 December, the Germans attacked in force and the Battle of the Bulge was on! By the end of the second day the 423rd was surrounded and cut off from all re-supply. Low in ammunition and medical supplies, the Regiment lasted four days before it was forced to surrender on 20 December. Moe and his men were taken into Germany as POWs for five months.</p>
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In April 1945, while a prisoner, Moe was wounded by U.S. bombs during a B-25 raid over Nuremberg, Germany.</p>
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Upon return to duty in May 1946, Moe served as an advisor to China and in Japan as Chief of Staff under General William Dean of the 24th Infantry Division on occupation duty on Kyushu Island. In June 1950, Moe served as Chief, Southern California Military District until his retirement on 30 September 1953 after 36 years of active duty.</p>
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For his service with the 423rd Infantry and for the wounds received as a POVV, Moe was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with V Clasp, the Combat Infantry Badge, and the Purple Heart. For his subsequent service he received the Army Commendation Medal and the Nationalist Chinese Breast Order of Yun Hui. In 1993 he was awarded the 75th Anniversary of WWI Medal.</p>
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Moe, with his wife of almost 60 years, Carolyn, lived an active life in Santa Barbara, Corona Del Mar, New Horizons, and Goleta, California; and in Leisure World near San Clemente and Tustin until finally moving to Sun City in 1980 where they lived until he moved into the Skilled Nursing Facility at Air Force Village West in July 1991. Carolyn died in 1984, and in 1985 he married Lois Hoewing Blum, who passed away in 1989. Moe was a devoted family man and is survived by his daughter, Sarah Viney; a grandson, David; a granddaughter, Lynn Ann; and one great-granddaughter, Mary Ruth.</p>
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He loved life and remained young at heart. Most importantly, he possessed an indomitable spirit and unquenchable patriotism as testified by his lifelong quest to serve his country to the best of his ability and his desire to “ride to the sound of battle.” He retained his sharp mind and wit even though confined to a wheelchair and suffering from impaired vision and hearing. He loved to sing, and his effervescent spirit was a joy to all. Moe epitomized the West Point motto: “Duty, Honor, Country.” There are no better words to express Moe Cavender’s life and service to his country than those drawn from “The Alma Mater”:</p>
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<em>And when our work is done,</em></p>
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<em>Our course on earth is run,</em></p>
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<em>May it be said, “Well done;</em></p>
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<em>Be thou at peace.”</em></p>
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<em>Family, friends, classmates, and fellow West Pointers</em><br />
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