RDM2 Julius Heinrich Otto “Henry” Pieper
Cenotaph

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RDM2 Julius Heinrich Otto “Henry” Pieper Veteran

Birth
Esmond, Kingsbury County, South Dakota, USA
Death
19 Jun 1944 (aged 19)
Basse-Normandie, France
Cenotaph
Creston, Platte County, Nebraska, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
View Source
This is a cenotaph.
Julius was buried in the Normandy American Cemetery, here: Julius Pieper.


Julius Pieper and his twin brother Ludwig Pieper were born at Esmond, South Dakota on May 17, 1925, and were killed in action June 19, 1944, while fighting with the United States Navy in the Atlantic area during the invasion of Normandy, France.

They were the twin sons of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Pieper of Creston, Nebraska, and grandsons of Mr. and Mrs. August Pieper, deceased. The Pieper twins had three sisters and one brother. Their sisters, all of Creston, Nebraska, are Mary Ann Pieper, and twins Ivona and Leona Pieper. Their brother, Fred Pieper, served one year overseas in the Southwest Pacific, and attended the Navy V-12 school at Cleveland, Ohio.

Julius and Ludwig attended School District 8 in Creston Township, and graduated from Creston High School in the class of 1942. The Pieper twins held the distinction of being the first twins to graduate from that school. During the winter of 1942-1943, they were employed by the Burlington Railroad in Lincoln, Nebraska, until they joined the navy on February 17, 1943.

They took their basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Training School near Chicago, after which they attended the radio school at the University of Chicago. They went overseas in March of 1944, and took part in the invasion of Europe on June 6, 1944. They were killed in action on June 19, 1944, as the result of enemy action in the Atlantic area during the invasion of Normandy, France. The twins were cited for bravery and each received the Purple Heart and the World War II Victory Medal, which were awarded posthumously.

A memorial service for the Pieper twins was held at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Creston, Nebraska, on July 30, 1944, with Reverend R. L. Jobman, pastor, officiating at the service. The American Legion was in charge of the military rite. When Pieper Post No. 306 of the American Legion at Creston was organized, it was named in honor of the Pieper twins.

________________________

Navy Reserve Radioman 2nd Class Julius H.O. Pieper, killed during World War II, was accounted for on Nov 15, 2015.

On June 19, 1944, Pieper was a member of Landing Ship Tank Number 523 (LST-523), off the coast of Normandy, France. The ship exploded and sank after striking an underwater mine, killing Pieper. In the years following the incident, his remains were not recovered or identified. Pieper's twin brother, Radioman 2nd Class Ludwig J. Pieper, was also killed in the attack, but his remains were recovered after the incident and buried at the Normandy American Cemetery in France.

Pieper will be buried June 19, 2018 at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France.

Pieper's name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at the Normandy American Cemetery in France, an American Battle Monuments Commission site. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.
This is a cenotaph.
Julius was buried in the Normandy American Cemetery, here: Julius Pieper.


Julius Pieper and his twin brother Ludwig Pieper were born at Esmond, South Dakota on May 17, 1925, and were killed in action June 19, 1944, while fighting with the United States Navy in the Atlantic area during the invasion of Normandy, France.

They were the twin sons of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Pieper of Creston, Nebraska, and grandsons of Mr. and Mrs. August Pieper, deceased. The Pieper twins had three sisters and one brother. Their sisters, all of Creston, Nebraska, are Mary Ann Pieper, and twins Ivona and Leona Pieper. Their brother, Fred Pieper, served one year overseas in the Southwest Pacific, and attended the Navy V-12 school at Cleveland, Ohio.

Julius and Ludwig attended School District 8 in Creston Township, and graduated from Creston High School in the class of 1942. The Pieper twins held the distinction of being the first twins to graduate from that school. During the winter of 1942-1943, they were employed by the Burlington Railroad in Lincoln, Nebraska, until they joined the navy on February 17, 1943.

They took their basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Training School near Chicago, after which they attended the radio school at the University of Chicago. They went overseas in March of 1944, and took part in the invasion of Europe on June 6, 1944. They were killed in action on June 19, 1944, as the result of enemy action in the Atlantic area during the invasion of Normandy, France. The twins were cited for bravery and each received the Purple Heart and the World War II Victory Medal, which were awarded posthumously.

A memorial service for the Pieper twins was held at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Creston, Nebraska, on July 30, 1944, with Reverend R. L. Jobman, pastor, officiating at the service. The American Legion was in charge of the military rite. When Pieper Post No. 306 of the American Legion at Creston was organized, it was named in honor of the Pieper twins.

________________________

Navy Reserve Radioman 2nd Class Julius H.O. Pieper, killed during World War II, was accounted for on Nov 15, 2015.

On June 19, 1944, Pieper was a member of Landing Ship Tank Number 523 (LST-523), off the coast of Normandy, France. The ship exploded and sank after striking an underwater mine, killing Pieper. In the years following the incident, his remains were not recovered or identified. Pieper's twin brother, Radioman 2nd Class Ludwig J. Pieper, was also killed in the attack, but his remains were recovered after the incident and buried at the Normandy American Cemetery in France.

Pieper will be buried June 19, 2018 at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France.

Pieper's name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at the Normandy American Cemetery in France, an American Battle Monuments Commission site. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

Inscription

In Memory of
Julius H Pieper
RM2 US Navy
World War II
Purple Heart