Smith Wit

Writer, Identical Twin & former NFL Cheerleader. If you can't laugh at yourself, I'll do it for you

[Matthew Bowdish MD @MatthewBowdish]

Our family visited the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy a couple of weeks ago to pay our respects to Debbie @SmithWit and DeeDee’s @Dee2West grandfather. I will have more about him tomorrow. While walking the grounds, we came across two headstones with the same surname and date of death. “There must be a story there,” I thought.

Ludwig “Louie” Pieper and Julius “Henry” Pieper were twins, born on May 17, 1925 and hailed from Creston, Nebraska. They both enlisted in the US Navy on May 17, 1943 and received training as radiomen. Louie and Henry were assigned to LST-523. LSTs (Landing Ship Tank) were ships designed to transport troops, vehicles, and supplies onto shores during amphibious operations. LST-523 was moving equipment to Normandy two weeks after D-Day when she was struck by a German mine and sunk in a matter of minutes.

Both Louie and Henry died. They were 19 years old. Louis’s body was recovered quickly. He was given internment in a temporary cemetery until his body was moved to the American Cemetery in Normandy shortly after it was opened. Henry’s body was not immediately recovered. Henry’s name was listed on the Wall of the Missing at the Normandy cemetery. In the 1960s, French divers recovered nine unidentified bodies from LST-523 that were buried at the Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium.

Fast forward to 2015 when Ainsworth High School (Ainsworth, NE) student Vanessa Taylor was working on a project to honor “silent heroes” from her home state. She came across the Pieper Twins’ story and worked with the National Archives to obtain records. She also requested records from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). That record request led to DPAA staff realizing that Henry may have been one of those recovered in 1961 and buried in Belgium. Two years later, through dental, radiographic, and DNA data, a positive identification was made.

Once the Pieper Family had learned that Henry’s body had been identified, they asked the American Battle Monuments Commission is he could be buried alongside Louis at the Normandy American Cemetery. In 2018, both brothers were moved to be with each other again.

Our tour guide Marie told us that there are there are MIAs identified every year. Of the 1557 names on the Wall of the Missing, 19 have a bronze rosette next to their name, indicating that their bodies were recovered and identified. However, Marie said the number is now closer to 30. Some of these men were found in other cemeteries. Others are found every year in the sands and hedgerows of Normandy. Let’s hope that all of our missing will be identified and given their proper recognition. #MemorialDayWeekend @jaketapper @44magnumBlue1 @USNavy @dodpaa @POWMIAFamilies1 @ProjRecover

[NashSevereWx @NashSevereWx]

New Tornado Warning for SE Williamson Co. We are live here: https://t.co/ShHsYNApLv

[Darren Urban @Cardschatter]

The #AZCardinals come to Chicago, play Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins, intercept Andy Dalton 4 times, and roll to a 33-22 win.

They are 10-2. They are 7-0 on the road. They remain the team with the best record in the NFL.

Next Monday night, at home, against the Rams.

[Smith Wit @SmithWit]

I would’ve liked to have known my grandfather 🤍

[Matthew Bowdish MD @MatthewBowdish]

On DDay+77yrs, remembering Capt Frank Herbert Disbrow Jr, 357th Inf Regt, 90th Inf Div, U.S. Army, KIA 11 Jun 1944 during Normandy Invasion. From Pasadena, CA. Buried at Cimetière Américain de Colleville-sur-​Mer. Grandfather of fellow @NHHSailors alumni @SmithWit & @DeeDeeWest

[Smith Wit @SmithWit]

@austinenergy Our 3-day suffering just ended. Power is back up and running and I’m cranking the AC. Thank you!

[Smith Wit @SmithWit]

@austinenergy Alejandro and his crew were here earlier and working on restoring power to our little group. I think a tree needs to still come down but hearing chainsaws never sounded so good. Thank you for sending help.

[Smith Wit @SmithWit]

@austinenergy Finally, a sign of hope and promise just rolled up. Dear Lord, hear our prayer for AC and deliver us from boob sweat. 🤣

[Smith Wit @SmithWit]

@austinenergy It certainly isn’t as frustrating to tweet about it when you have power as it is for the 900 of us still having to endure this ridiculousness.

[Smith Wit @SmithWit]

@austin_homeless @austinenergy We don't have power. Lol

[Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR) @HC_Richardson]

I’m a teacher. I would never in a million years let a classroom turn into this.

[Nick Melvoin @nickmelvoin]

Best argument for more women in politics I’ve ever seen.

[Smith Wit @SmithWit]

How all Americans feel tonight. #PresidentialDebate2020

[Smith Wit @SmithWit]

Dear Texas bars, I’ll see you later in round three of our on-again, off-again bizarre relationship.🍹🍺 🍷

[Smith Wit @SmithWit]

What happened to we’re going to come out of quarantine a kinder and gentler society? When does that part start?

[Smith Wit @SmithWit]

@bobspinelli It’s been a really long time!!!

[Smith Wit @SmithWit]

My grandfather, Frank Herbert Disbrow, never made it off the beaches of Normandy. My mom was only one when she lost her father on D-Day. So on #MemorialDay, I think of her. I think of those memories they would never make and the face of her father she would never see again.

[rendon @maria_rendon97]

Not even SNL could not write something as ridiculous as this actual, real news report from my local station

[Smith Wit @SmithWit]

Instead of a stimulus check, the government should’ve sent every American a weighted blanket, a fifth of good whiskey, Xanax and Kraft mac-n-cheese. Now, thats the kind of care package I want!

[Smith Wit @SmithWit]

@EWErickson Same thing happened to me when I lived in Vinings, GA last year. FBI, DEA and SWAT showed up. Dude had already bailed a week earlier. But the gem had asked me out once (I said no), so I gave the detectives his cellphone number. 🤣