It is the opinion of this Andover club "old timer" that no speaker has had a more compelling story to tell than Morley Piper. Morley is not just any World War II veteran but one who fought in arguably the most critical battle in the greatest military operation in the history of the world--the assault on Omaha Beach in the D-Day invasion.
Al Getler's Dad was a WW II veteran and Morley himself was a director of the New England Newspaper Association so it was only natural that Al introduce the soft-spoken Morley.
Morley was a newly minted 19 year old second lieutenant in the 29th Infantry Division. He and his fellow soldiers trained in the moors and beaches of England. His batallian consisted of 800 men which, by the end of June 6, 1944, was reduced to 240. His own platoon was whittled down from 42 to 17.
At 3:30 a.m. troops loaded into their LCIs (landing craft infantry). The rough seas made many sea sick and others eager to trade bullets on the shore for waves in the ocean. The 116th Regiment was the first to land and did so squarely in the crosshairs of Germans waiting in their concrete pill boxes. The regiment was almost totally decimated--many drowned thanks to their 50-70 pound packs. Those in tanks fared no better as the rolling seas swamped the vehicles and propelled them to a watery grave. Morley and his men watched from their landing craft as dead and dying Americans lay before them on the shore.
The horror of Omaha Beach landing quickly rendered all plans useless as men just concentrated on surviving. The aerial bombardment that was supposed to create craters in the beach to give cover instead exploded uselessly in the fields behind enemy lines. After several hours on the beach Morely and fellow survivors were able to reach high ground. The naval bombardment succeeded in punching a hole in the concrete wall that traversed a ravine. By noon the 29th the Division had taken the remnants of the seaside town of Vierville. Morley's platoon of 17 survivors moved on to St. Laurent sur Mer and then to small villages nestled in the treacherous hedge row country. Morley's baptism in the savagery of war was far from over after the D-Day landing. In the subsequent fighting at St. Lo it took 30 days for American troops to advance a few miles.
Before Omaha Beach bravado had come easily to the young soldiers. After D-Day all that bravado was gone. Morley Piper finished his harrowing account to a standing ovation. He is one of the fast disappearing members of the Greatest Generation. We owe a debt that can never be repaid.
Offspring guests included Perrin Troiano and Kathleen and Caroline Buck. Chuck Humphries is an attorney in town test driving the club. Architect and Citizen Who Cares John Pearson, District Governor Terry Kidder, and Keith Campbell, the new captain of the Merrimack Valley Salvation Army added variety to the meeting. Two World War II veterans and true American heroes included Guadalcanal survivor Frank Simosa and speaker Morley Piper whose amazing story follows.
Terry Kidder’s four of spades was outdone by Al Getler’s nine of clubs. His ten dollars was not much greater than the newly recharged pot.