Max F. Moritz

Max F. Moritz was born in Philadelphia in April of 1887. His father is listed in the 1900 Census as George and in the 1910 Census as August Moritz; his mother went by the nickname of Minnie. Mr. and Mrs. Moritz had come to America from Germany in 1881. The elder Moritz worked as a cabinetmaker.

At the time of the 1900 census the Moritz family lived at 430 Kaighn Avenue, the family having moved there a short time after the March 1892 birth of son Charles Moritz. Five other children had been born in Pennsylvania: Hattie, Clara, Max, Minnie, and Robert. A seventh child, Ella, was born in Camden in April of 1894. Max Moritz had gone to work as an errand boy in a nearby dry goods store when the 1900 Census was enumerated. The family lived next to Gee Wah, a native of China who operated a laundry at 432 Kaighn Avenue. By 1910 the family had moved to North Camden, residing at 418 Vine Street. Both father and son had found work at the Van Sciver furniture factory, the elder Moritz plying his cabinetmaker’s trade, while young Max worked as an upholsterer.

When America entered World War I, Max Moritz went into the Army, and was assigned to the 4th Infantry Regiment. He trained at Gettysburg, PA. Going overseas as a Sergeant with the 4th Infantry, he saw considerable combat. On February 17, 1919 Max F. Moritz was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, America’s second highest award for heroism, for aiding a wounded comrade under enemy fire. He was also awarded the Croix de Guerre by the government of France. Sergeant Moritz was wounded while in France, and was awarded the Purple Heart.

At the end of World War I, Sergeant Moritz remained in the Army, and in 1920 was stationed at the Madison Barracks in Hauntsfield Township, Jefferson County NY. When he left the Army he returned to Camden NJ, where he worked as a laborer for the National Waterproofing Company at Front and Beckett Streets. He last made his home with his sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. William and Ella Hulme, of 202 Elm Street in North Camden.

Max Moritz died after a short illness at Cooper Hospital in Camden NJ on March 12, 1950. He was buried in the Distinguished Service section of Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly NJ, where he rests next to those awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross, on March 15, 1950.

MORITZ, MAX F.
Sergeant, U.S. Army
Company A, 4th Infantry Regiment, 3d Division, A.E.F.
Date of Action: July 22, 1918

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Max F. Moritz, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Mont St. Pere, France, July 22, 1918. After his platoon had captured a German field piece in the woods near Mont St. Pere and returned to the town, Sergeant Moritz voluntarily remained behind with a wounded comrade, in a woods infested by enemy snipers, and after nightfall brought the wounded man to a place of safety.

General Orders No. 32, W.D., 1919