Yangtze PatrolWorld War II Earl Sanford Piper (February 14, 1905 – July 7, 1979) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of brigadier general.

A veteran of the Nicaraguan Campaign, Piper distinguished himself under fire and received the Navy Cross, the United States military's second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat.

Following the graduation from high school in summer 1923, he received appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, where he was active in the soccer and basketball teams and also served on the staff of the Lucky Bag.

While in that country, his regiment was attached to the 2nd Marine Brigade under the command of Brigadier General Logan Feland 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.

While in that country, he was attached to the 4th Marine Regiment under Colonel Emile P. Moses at Shanghai International Settlement 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.

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.

[1][2] Piper returned to the United States in January 1944 and assumed duty as operations officer on the staff of 5th Marine Division under Major General Keller E. Rockey at Camp Pendleton, California.

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.

He held that responsibility during the Chinese Civil War and received his second Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal and Order of Cloud and Banner by the Republic of China.

[5] Here is the ribbon bar of Brigadier General Earl S. Piper:[3] 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.