Moses Hardy (1894 - 2006)

Born 6 Jan 1894 in Aberdeen, Monroe, Mississippi, United States

Died 7 Dec 2006 at age 112 in Aberdeen, Monroe, Mississippi, United States

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Biography

Moses Hardy was a centenarian, living to age 112.

Moses Hardy is Notable.

Moses Hardy was the oldest American veteran of World War I. He received the Victory Medal, a special medal from the Mississippi National Guard and the French Légion d'honneur.^[1]

Moses Hardy was the son of former slaves Morrace Hardy and Nancie Randle. He was born in 1893.^[2]

Hardy lived a religious and farming life until he signed up to serve overseas in World War I in July 1918. He served in the segregated 805th infantry, which was assigned a variety of manual labor and support tasks. Hardy served as a scout, supplying the front line troops when necessary. Though Hardy did experience combat, he was never seriously injured and rarely discussed his experiences concerning the fighting. Instead, he preferred to recount stories about the food, the bravery of the soldiers and the weather in France.

Hardy was married to Fannie Marshall, and they had eight children. He outlived at least three of them.

After the war, he took on a variety of jobs including school bus driver, farmer, deacon and cosmetics salesman, the latter of which he performed well past his 100th birthday. He received the Victory Medal, a special medal from the Mississippi National Guard and the French Légion d'honneur. In 1999, the Mississippi Legislature adopted a resolution recognizing him as an outstanding citizen of Mississippi. At the time of his death, at the age of 112,^[2] he was recognized as the oldest combat veteran ever, the oldest male ever recorded in Mississippi and the second-oldest man and World War I veteran in the world. He is buried in Mount Olivet Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery in Aberdeen, Mississippi.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia entry for Moses Hardy
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Social Security: "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007"
   Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007
   Ancestry Record 60901 #36472369
   Name: Moses Hardy; Gender: Male; Race: Black; Birth Date: 6 Aug 1893; Birth Place: Aberdeen Mon, Mississippi; Death Date: 7 Dec 2006; Father: Morris Hardy; Mother: Nancy Randle; Notes: Aug 1941: Name listed as MOSES HARDY.
3. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #16961278
   Memorial page for Moses Hardy (6 Jan 1893-7 Dec 2006), citing Mount Olivet Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Aberdeen, Monroe County, Mississippi, USA; Maintained by Erik Lander (contributor 503045).

• 1900 Census: "1900 United States Federal Census"
  Year: 1900; Census Place: Willis, Monroe, Mississippi; Roll: 822; Page: 11; Enumeration District: 0083
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7602 #28260738
  Moses Hardy (6), single son, in household of Morrace Hardy (66) in Willis, Monroe, Mississippi. Born in Mississippi, USA.
• 1930 Census: "1930 United States Federal Census"
  Year: 1930; Census Place: Beat 5, Monroe, Mississippi; Page: 19A; Enumeration District: 0028; FHL microfilm: 2340894
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6224 #37379481
  Moses Hardy (37), married, Farmer, head of household in Beat 5, Monroe, Mississippi, USA. Born in Mississippi.