Major Albert G. Maroscher

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance to honor the sacrifice made by the men and women who have died during their service in the United States military.

Hardin-Simmons University is a community steeped in service. Across campus, you will find memorials dedicated to students, faculty, and staff who served and gave the ultimate sacrifice during military service. For example, Fort Babe Shaw Cannon is a tribute to lives lost during WWI, and directly across from the cannon is a tree with a plaque dedicated to all students who lost their lives serving their country since WWI.

Albert Maroscher with his wife, Betty.

In 1969, a flagpole was erected in honor of Major Albert G. Maroscher, who was killed in action in Vietnam on April 15, 1968. Maroscher had been an assistant professor at HSU from 1964 to 1967.

Maroscher was a Romanian native who later became a naturalized American citizen. As a young boy, his family fled their home during WWII. He walked over 600 miles across Romania, Hungary, Austria, and eventually into Bavaria, Germany in May 1945, where he and his family temporarily settled.

One day, Maroscher was rummaging through trash when an American soldier approached him. Maroscher stood his ground and was met with a kind smile and a piece of chocolate from the soldier. This friendly introduction to an American laid the foundation for Maroscher’s eagerness to become an American citizen.

The Maroscher family later made their way to the United States, where they became citizens.

Albert Maroscher graduated from Ohio State in 1959 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the army. After officer’s training at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was assigned to Germany as a platoon leader, public information officer, company executive officer, company commander, and battalion adjutant. In 1963, he returned to the U.S. as a captain and was assigned to HSU’s ROTC program to serve as an assistant professor of military science. While at HSU, Maroscher earned a master’s in history.

In August 1967, Maroscher reported to the First Infantry Division in Vietnam, where he was promoted to major. He was killed in an aircraft shot down by hostile fire in April 1968.

Maroscher’s funeral service was held in Behrens Chapel at HSU. His wife, Betty, was presented with several posthumous awards in her husband’s honor. Among those awards were the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and the Purple Heart.

Hardin-Simmons University is thankful to the men and women who chose to serve the United States. May God always watch over and bless our military families.