Earl Sanford Piper (February 14, 1905 – July 7, 1979) was a highly decorated officer in the
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...
with the rank of
brigadier general
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...
. A veteran of the
Nicaraguan Campaign, Piper distinguished himself under fire and received the
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps' second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is eq ...
, the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
military's second-highest
decoration
Decoration may refer to:
* Decorative arts
* A house painter and decorator's craft
* An act or object intended to increase the beauty of a person, room, etc.
* An award that is a token of recognition to the recipient intended for wearing
Other ...
awarded for
valor
Valor, valour, or valorous may mean:
* Courage, a similar meaning
* Virtue ethics, roughly "courage in defense of a noble cause"
Entertainment
* Valor (band), a Christian gospel music group
* Valor Kand, a member of the band Christian Death
* ' ...
in combat. He later participated in the
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima (19 February – 26 March 1945) was a major battle in which the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and United States Navy (USN) landed on and eventually captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Imperial Japanese Army (IJ ...
and the
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was fought between the Kuomintang-led government of the Republic of China and forces of the Chinese Communist Party, continuing intermittently since 1 August 1927 until 7 December 1949 with a Communist victory on m ...
.
Early life
Earl S. Piper was born on February 14, 1904, in
New London, Missouri
New London is a city in Ralls County, Missouri, United States. The population was 943 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Ralls County.
New London is part of the Hannibal Micropolitan Statistical Area. William Jameson, claimed land, ma ...
, as the son of Harry M. and Mary R. Piper. Following the graduation from high school in summer 1923, he received appointment to the
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy ...
at
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maryland and the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Anne Arundel County. Situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east o ...
, where he was active in the soccer and basketball teams and also served on the staff of the Lucky Bag. Piper graduated with a
bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...
in June 1927 and was commissioned second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on that date.
Many of his classmates became general officers later:
George W. Anderson, Jr.,
Glynn R. Donaho
Glynn Robert Donaho (March 25, 1905 – May 26, 1986), nicknamed "Donc", was a United States Navy officer known principally for his exploits as a submarine commander during World War II, for which he received the Navy Cross four times, the Silver ...
,
John C. Munn,
Herbert D. Riley,
Alan Shapley
Lieutenant General Alan Shapley ( Alan Herreshoff; February 9, 1903 – May 13, 1973) was a United States Marine Corps officer who survived the sinking of the USS Arizona (BB-39), USS ''Arizona'' during the World War II attack on Pearl Harbor, an ...
,
John Thach
John Smith Thach (April 19, 1905 – April 15, 1981) was a World War II Naval Aviator, air combat tactician, and United States Navy admiral. Thach developed the Thach Weave, a combat flight formation which could counter enemy fighters of superior ...
,
Clarence E. Coffin,
Samuel H. Crittenden Jr.,
Timothy F. Donohue,
Thomas J. Hamilton,
Herbert L. Hoerner,
William P. Chilton,
Alexander M. Kowalzyk,
William L. Knickerbocker
William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Engl ...
,
Leland R. Lampman,
William H. Leahy,
William F. Royall
William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Engl ...
,
Brooke Schumm,
Samuel S. Jack,
Jack P. Juhan
Jack Phillip Juhan (December 28, 1904 – February 24, 2002) was a decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps, who reached the rank of major general. He is most noted for his service as executive officer of 8th Marine Regiment during the ...
,
Francis M. McAlister,
David F. O'Neill
David Ferguson O'Neill (December 27, 1904 – September 27, 1963) was a decorated Naval aviator and officer in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of major general. A veteran of World War II, he commanded Strike Command, Aircraft Solomon ...
,
Henry R. Paige,
Walter L. J. Bayler,
Joseph W. Earnshaw,
Harold D. Hansen,
Archie E. O'Neil,
Richard P. Ross Jr.
Richard Potts Ross Jr. (March 18, 1906 – October 6, 1990) was a highly decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of brigadier general. He is most noted for his service with the 1st Marine Division during the Battle of Ok ...
or
Miles S. Newton.
Piper was then ordered to
the Basic School
The Basic School (TBS) is where all newly commissioned and appointed (for warrant officers) United States Marine Corps officers are taught the basics of being an "Officer of Marines". The Basic School is located at Camp Barrett, Quantico, Vir ...
at
Philadelphia Navy Yard
The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard was an important naval shipyard of the United States for almost two centuries.
Philadelphia's original navy yard, begun in 1776 on Front Street and Federal Street in what is now the Pennsport section of the cit ...
for basic officer training, which in the spring of 1928. He was subsequently ordered to
Nicaragua
Nicaragua (; ), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (), is the largest country in Central America, bordered by Honduras to the north, the Caribbean to the east, Costa Rica to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Managua is the cou ...
and attached as platoon leader to the
11th Marine Regiment
The 11th Marine Regiment is an artillery regiment of the United States Marine Corps based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. Known as the "Cannon Cockers", the regiment falls under the command of the 1st Marine Division and the I ...
. While in that country, his regiment was attached to the 2nd Marine Brigade under the command of Brigadier General
Logan Feland
Major General Logan Feland (18 August 1869 – 17 July 1936) was a United States Marine Corps general who last served as commanding general of the Department of the Pacific. Feland served during the Spanish–American War (3rd Kentucky Volunte ...
and participated in the maintaining peace during the Presidential elections of 1928, training the Nicaraguan National Guard and in jungle patrols against bandit forces under
Augusto César Sandino
Augusto C. Sandino (; May 18, 1895 February 21, 1934), full name Augusto Nicolás Calderón de Sandino y José de María Sandino, was a Nicaraguan revolutionary and leader of a rebellion between 1927 and 1933 against the United States occupati ...
.
On May 13 of that year, Piper was a member of
patrol near Pena Blanca, where they were ambushed by Sandino Bandits. Commander of the patrol, Captain Robert S. Hunter, was mortally wounded and Piper assumed command of the patrol. He displayed exceptional bravery, coolness and leadership and repulsed enemy attack. The bandits were finally dispersed and driven off. For his act of valor during that engagement, Piper was decorated with the Navy Cross, the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
military's second-highest
decoration
Decoration may refer to:
* Decorative arts
* A house painter and decorator's craft
* An act or object intended to increase the beauty of a person, room, etc.
* An award that is a token of recognition to the recipient intended for wearing
Other ...
awarded for
valor
Valor, valour, or valorous may mean:
* Courage, a similar meaning
* Virtue ethics, roughly "courage in defense of a noble cause"
Entertainment
* Valor (band), a Christian gospel music group
* Valor Kand, a member of the band Christian Death
* ' ...
in combat. He also received Nicaraguan Presidential Medal for Merit with Diploma.
Following his return to the United States in November 1929, Piper was attached to the
1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment at Quantico and served successively as commanding officer, Headquarters Company and as battalion adjutant until March 1931.
He was then ordered to the Marine barracks at
Naval Base Cavite
Naval Station Pascual Ledesma, also known as Cavite Naval Base or Cavite Navy Yard, is a military installation of the Philippine Navy in Cavite City. In the 1940s and '50s, it was called Philippine Navy Operating Base. The naval base is located at ...
,
Philippine Islands
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
and held variety of billets, including executive officer of the naval prison and town patrol officer. Piper remained on Philippines until September 1932, when he received orders for another expeditionary duty in
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
. While in that country, he was attached to the
4th Marine Regiment
The 4th Marine Regiment is an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps. Based at Camp Schwab in Okinawa, Japan, it is part of the 3rd Marine Division of the III Marine Expeditionary Force.
Mission
Close with and destroy the enemy by fi ...
under Colonel
Emile P. Moses
Emile Phillips Moses (May 27, 1880 – December 22, 1965) was a distinguished officer in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of major general. A veteran of forty years of service and several expeditionary campaigns, Moses is most noted f ...
at
Shanghai International Settlement
The Shanghai International Settlement () originated from the merger in the year 1863 of the British and American enclaves in Shanghai, in which British subjects and American citizens would enjoy extraterritoriality and consular jurisdiction ...
and served with
3rd Battalion as quartermaster and later as officer in Company K. While in that capacity, he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant.
Piper was ordered back to the United States in January 1935 and attended the Junior Course at
Marine Corps Schools, Quantico. He graduated in May of that year and reported to the Special Service Squadron for sea duty as commanding officer of the Marine detachment aboard the light cruiser
USS ''Memphis''. Piper then commanded marine detachments aboard the gunboats
USS ''Charleston'' and
USS ''Erie'' and participated in the voyages to the
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the ea ...
. He was promoted to captain during his service in that assignments.
World War II
In June 1938, Piper was attached to the
Office of Naval Intelligence
The Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) is the military intelligence agency of the United States Navy. Established in 1882 primarily to advance the Navy's modernization efforts, it is the oldest member of the U.S. Intelligence Community and serves ...
and ordered to
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
, where he served as assistant naval attache at the American embassy in
Mexico City
Mexico City ( es, link=no, Ciudad de México, ; abbr.: CDMX; Nahuatl: ''Altepetl Mexico'') is the capital and largest city of Mexico, and the most populous city in North America. One of the world's alpha cities, it is located in the Valley o ...
. He served in this capacity for next five years and was promoted successively to major and lieutenant colonel. He was decorated with the Peruvian Order of Naval Merit during his service in this capacity.
Piper returned to the United States in January 1944 and assumed duty as operations officer on the staff of
5th Marine Division
The 5th Marine Division was a United States Marine Corps ground combat division which was activated on 11 November 1943 (officially activated on 21 January 1944) at Camp Pendleton, California during World War II. The 5th Division saw its first ...
under Major General
Keller E. Rockey
Keller Emrick Rockey (September 22, 1888 – June 6, 1970) was a highly decorated Lieutenant General in the United States Marine Corps, who commanded the Fifth Marine Division in the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II and the Third ...
at
Camp Pendleton
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is the major West Coast base of the United States Marine Corps and is one of the largest Marine Corps bases in the United States. It is on the Southern California coast in San Diego County and is bordered by Oc ...
,
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
. He participated in intensive training of the division and later assumed duty as divisional logistics officer. Piper went overseas with 5th Marine Division in mid-1944 and participated as colonel in the
Iwo Jima campaign in February and March 1945, during which he was responsible for the planning and organization of logistics. For his part in the Iwo Jima Campaign, Piper received the
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...
with
Combat "V"
Combat ( French for ''fight'') is a purposeful violent conflict meant to physically harm or kill the opposition. Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed ( not using weapons). Combat is sometimes resorted to as a method of self-defense, or ...
.
When general Rockey was ordered to the command of
III Marine Amphibious Corps
III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) is a formation of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force of the United States Marine Corps. It is forward-deployed and able to rapidly conduct operations across the spectrum from humanitarian assistance and d ...
in North China at the end of June 1945, Piper followed him as Corps Logistical officer. He was stationed in
Tsingtao
Qingdao (, also spelled Tsingtao; , Mandarin: ) is a major city in eastern Shandong Province. The city's name in Chinese characters literally means " azure island". Located on China's Yellow Sea coast, it is a major nodal city of the One Belt ...
and was responsible for the planning and coordination of logistical support for all subordinate troops including
1st and
6th Marine Divisions. He held that responsibility during the
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was fought between the Kuomintang-led government of the Republic of China and forces of the Chinese Communist Party, continuing intermittently since 1 August 1927 until 7 December 1949 with a Communist victory on m ...
and received his second
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...
,
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone.
Wh ...
and
Order of Cloud and Banner
The Order of the Cloud and Banner () also known as the Order of the Resplendent Banner is a military award of the Republic of China. It was instituted on June 15, 1935 and is awarded in nine grades for contributions to national security. The insig ...
by the
Republic of China
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast ...
.
Later Service
![Earl S](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Earl_S._Piper_promotion_ceremony_with_Randolph_M._Pate.jpg)
Piper was ordered back to the United States in July 1946 and assumed duty as assistant chief of staff for logistics with Troop Training Unit, Training Command, Amphibious Forces, Pacific. He served in this capacity under Major General
LeRoy P. Hunt
LeRoy Philip Hunt (March 17, 1892 – February 8, 1968) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of general. A veteran of World War I, he was decorated with the Navy Cross and Army Distinguished Service Cros ...
until June 1948, when he was sent to
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is an American seaside city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island. It is located in Narragansett Bay, approximately southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, Providence, south of Fall River, Massachusetts, south of Boston, ...
, for instruction at the
Naval War College
The Naval War College (NWC or NAVWARCOL) is the staff college and "Home of Thought" for the United States Navy at Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island. The NWC educates and develops leaders, supports defining the future Navy and associat ...
.
He graduated in June 1949 and joined the headquarters of
Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic
Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic (FMFLANT) is an American maritime landing force that is spread across the Atlantic Ocean. It is headquartered at Naval Station Norfolk and directs and commands all the subordinate elements of the Navy Expeditiona ...
at
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk ( ) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Incorporated in 1705, it had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia Be ...
. Piper served again as assistant chief of staff for logistics under his previous superior, general Hunt, before he joined the headquarters of commander in chief,
U.S. Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean in
Naples
Naples (; it, Napoli ; nap, Napule ), from grc, Νεάπολις, Neápolis, lit=new city. is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 909,048 within the city's adminis ...
,
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
under Admiral
Robert B. Carney
Robert Bostwick Carney (March 26, 1895 – June 25, 1990) was an admiral in the United States Navy who served as commander-in-chief of the NATO forces in Southern Europe (1951–1953) and then as Chief of Naval Operations (1953–1954) du ...
.
Piper completed two years of duty there and returned to the United States for duty as director, Senior School at Marine Corps Schools, Quantico under Lieutenant General
Clifton B. Cates
Clifton Bledsoe Cates (August 31, 1893 – June 4, 1970) was a United States Marine Corps four-star general who served as the 19th Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1948 to 1951. He was honored for his heroism during World War I at the Battle ...
. He later held command of 2nd Combat Service Group at
Camp Lejeune
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune () is a United States military training facility in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Its of beaches make the base a major area for amphibious assault training, and its location between two deep-water ports ( Wilmingt ...
,
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...
and his unit consisted of engineer company, signal company, military police company, ordnance company, supply company, transport company and several Marine ammo companies, which provided support for
2nd Marine Division
The 2nd Marine Division (2nd MARDIV) is a division of the United States Marine Corps, which forms the ground combat element of the II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF). The division is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina ...
.
His final assignment came in September 1954, when he was appointed commanding officer, Marine Barracks at
Washington Navy Yard
The Washington Navy Yard (WNY) is the former shipyard and ordnance plant of the United States Navy in Southeast Washington, D.C. It is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy.
The Yard currently serves as a ceremonial and administrativ ...
. Piper held this assignment until his retirement on June 30, 1957, after 30 years of commissioned service. Upon his retirement from active service, he was advanced to the rank of
brigadier general
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...
on the retired list for having been specially commended in combat.
Death
Brigadier General Earl S. Piper died on July 7, 1979, in
Winter Park, Florida
Winter Park is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 30,183 according to the 2022 census population estimate. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Winter Park was fo ...
. He is buried with his wife Elizabeth at Cathedral Church of Saint Luke Memorial Garden in
Orlando, Florida
Orlando () is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Orange County, Florida, Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Greater Orlando, Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, acco ...
.
Decorations
Here is the ribbon bar of Brigadier General Earl S. Piper:
Navy Cross citation
Citation:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Second Lieutenant Earl Sanford Piper (MCSN: 0-4260), United States Marine Corps, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as acting commander of a patrol of the Second Brigade, U.S. Marine Corps, during an engagement with bandits at Pena Blanca, Nicaragua on 13 May 1928. During an attack by bandits, and after the commanding officer, the late Captain Robert S. Hunter, U.S. Marine Corps, had been mortally wounded, Second Lieutenant Piper assumed the command of the force and by his display of bravery, coolness and leadership so conducted the engagement that the attacks of the numerically superior and well armed bandit force were repulsed. The bandits finally were dispersed and driven off.
References
:
{{DEFAULTSORT:Piper, Earl S.
1905 births
1979 deaths
People from Ralls County, Missouri
United States Marine Corps generals
American military personnel of the Banana Wars
United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II
Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States)
Recipients of the Legion of Merit