W.Va. Soldier Killed In 1945 Finally Comes Home

A World War II soldier from McDowell County, West Virginia will be buried Saturday, nearly 80 years after he was killed in action. 

Private First Class Mose Vance was 21 years old. 

“A native of Bradshaw, West Virginia, Vance was a member of Company F, 2nd Battalion, 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division in the European Theater. He was killed in action Jan. 11, 1945… in the Vosges Mountains in Alsace-Lorraine, France, known as Operation NORDWIND,” confirmed the Past Conflict Repatriations Branch of the U.S. Army.

He was the oldest son of 13 siblings.

“As a child growing up, I remember my grandmother having pictures and news clippings and so forth on the wall when Moses was in World War II,” said the soldier’s nephew, Ferrell Vance.

“She carried a letter in her purse until she passed away, where she had tried to contact the military, with hopes of someday finding him,” he said.

Ferrell heard the stories about his dad’s big brother all his life, and – along with another brother who is now deceased – began searching for his uncle’s remains a few years ago. 

With the help of a sponsor in France, Ferrell used military records to trace the battles his uncle fought in and identify the area where his remains would likely be. The sponsor located the soldier’s bayonet, and from there, technology solved the case.

“I gave a DNA sample through the military. Actually, me and three other family members gave DNA samples, and with our DNA samples, we got a match. I was very emotional,” Ferrell said. 

Private First Class Mose Vance, whose medals include a purple heart and a gold star, will be interred on Saturday during a graveside service in Paynesville. His cremated remains will be buried between his parents. 

Visit the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency website for more information on Pfc. Mose Vance.