Moore’s fast fingers played role in invasion

COLUMBUS -- Stanton Moore, 94 and a life-long resident of Stromsburg, has a story to tell about his part in the invasion of Normandy, commonly known as D-Day.

Moore was drafted at the age of 28 and completed his basic training in Barmouth, England.

Moore’s contribution to the war effort early in his tour of duty was to collect and type the invasion plans provided by high ranking officers for Operation Overlord.

Operation Overlord was the military’s code name for the invasion of the beaches at Normany, France, that commenced June 6, 1944, which has since been known as D-Day.

“I was one of five chosen from 1,500 soldiers to get pulled out of combat duty because of my typing skills,” Moore said. “When I think how all those other men went on to combat, and I didn’t have to see any combat because I could type, I know how lucky I was.”

Moore credits his father for encouraging him to learn typing in high school. It was a skill he took to naturally.

“I don’t know how I got so good at typing. I just liked it, and so I worked at it and ended up finishing three years worth of typing classes in one year during high school,” Moore said. “I don’t remember how many words per minute I could type,, but I was good enough to get an office and be called out to type up the plans for the invasion.”

Moore said that while the duty was not as dangerous as combat duty, it did have its challenges.

“I was under guard by two big soldiers with Tommy-guns at all times,” Moore said. “They were with me every minute of the day every day, listening to every word I said to anyone because I knew too much. It was their job to make sure I didn’t tell anyone about the plans I was typing up.”

Moore’s guards slept in a triple decker bunk bed with one guard on the top bunk. Moore slept in the middle bunk, and another guard slept on the bottom berth.

“Everywhere I went, they went,” he said. “If I went to the bathroom, one would go in there with me, and when I went to the USO, they were right there by my side. I really felt like I was the one in prison sometimes.”

Moore said his work took about six weeks. He would go to the offices of those in charge of various components of the operation collect their section of the plan, take it to his office and type the documents. When his work was completed the various components would be taken away to be compiled into what became the completed plan for the Normandy invasion.

Moore almost didn’t have to go to war at all.

“I was living in Stromsburg, and the government was not drafting farmers at that time, but my brother-in-law, who lived in California, thought I should come out there and work in the shipyards,” Moore said. “I was already married, so me and my wife, Orpha, moved out to San Francisco, and I went to work in the shipyards.

“When I got there, I realized I had forgotten my papers, and when they came to talk to us, I could not prove that I was a farmer, and so I was drafted. If I had stayed home in Stromsburg, I might not have gone to the war at all.”

Six days following the Normandy invasion, he was stationed at Oise Headquarters in Reims, France.

“Being over there was a horrible experience,” Moore said. “The headquarters was in the Reims Cathedral. I was there during the winter months, and it was very cold inside those stone walls. I remember one night I was on guard duty and got shot at and almost took a bullet in the temple. What made me mad was that it was the French that were shooting at me that time. We called in our backup, and they came in and took care of them.

“I am glad I got to serve this great country. It is the best country in the world. I’m proud to be an American and it sure was nice to come home.”

Stanton Moore and his wife will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary in June. They have three sons.