Harry and Mike Moroz were the only sons of Mr and Mrs Alexander Moroz of 348 Regent Avenue in Transcona Manitoba Canada, a suburb of Winnipeg. Like many of their friends, the brothers grew up in Transcona, attended Central School, and excelled in sports.
Harry Moroz was an active hockey player in Transcona. In 1935, he played goal for Winnipeg Monarchs, Memorial Cup Champions. He played senior hockey for the Flin Flon Bombers in the Saskatchewan senior league for the 1937-1938 season..
Harry married Katherine Safian of Winnipeg in June of 1940. They moved to Flin Flon and worked for the Hudson Bay Mining Company.
In July 1942, Harry and his brother Mike enlisted in different branches of the armed service. Harry went into the Air Force and Mike went in the Army. They left behind their co-workers, team mates, and family that included their parents, Harry’s wife Katherine, Mike’s wife Margaret and his infant son Melvin.
Both brothers served overseas in Europe. During the spring of 1944, they were separately called upon by their country to take part in perilous operations over Germany and in France. Harry and Mike were both killed in action within a few months of each other. Flying Officer Hrykory “Harry” Moroz was killed during a flying operation over Frankfurt, Germany on Wednesday, March 23, 1944. Trooper Michael “Mike” Moroz was killed in action in Normandy, France on Wednesday, August 9, 1944 at 28 years of age.
Hrynkory “Harry” and Michael “Mike” Moroz In lieu of a burial, Hrykory Moroz was commemorated on panel 247 of the Runnymeade Memorial located in Surrey, United Kingdom. Michael Moroz is buried in Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, Calvados, France (Grave VI. D. 2.)
In 1958 a Saskatchewan lake 25 miles northeast of Flin Flon was renamed “Moroz Lake” in Harry’s honor. Two decades later, “Moroz Bay”, which is located at the North end of Maria Lake in Manitoba, was named after Mike in 1979.
Their mother, who lost her only two sons during the war, unveiled the WWII names on the Cenotaph and served as the “Silver Cross Mother” during many Transcona Remembrance Day services. In recognition of their supreme sacrifice and service to King and Country, Harry and Mike Moroz’s names were memorialized on the Cenotaph now located in Memorial Park Circle.
In 1958 a Saskatchewan lake 25 miles northeast of Flin Flon was renamed “Moroz Lake” in Harry’s honour. Two decades later, “Moroz Bay”, which is located at the North end of Maria Lake in Manitoba, was named after Mike in 1979.
A further commemoration was made through the naming of “Moroz Street” in 2003 (formerly named Royal Street) in the Regent Park area of Transcona, Manitoba.
The Moroz Brothers continue to be remembered by carrying on their names within the family.