World War II

Moss enlisted in the Marines not long after Pearl Harbor and was deployed to Guadalcanal. After the main battle was won, he had time to draw a large cartoon map commemorating the Battle of the Teneru which was greatly admired by his fellow soldiers who were eager to buy a copy. A friend took orders, at $10 each, and sent the money and addresses to Don’s mother, who had the poster printed and mailed to each Marine’s home address. Moss’s artistic talents were noticed by senior officers. Rather than being shipped off to Okinawa, was assigned to an elite map making group on the relatively safe island of Guam for the duration of the war. On Guam, Captain Gene Davis, who happened to be art director for Hearst Corporation, became his commanding officer, friend, and an invaluable mentor who helped launch his career back in New York.

For a time, Moss was the Chairman of the Society of Illustrators USAF Art Program and flew around the world to paint Air Force activities. The originals are in the USAF art collection, but a number of chromes are in the archive and could be made into prints for those who might be interested.