MG Evarts Walton Opie Sr.

MG Evarts Walton Opie Sr. was born in Staunton, Virginia on 12 Sep 1893, the youngest of State Senator John Newton and Ida Walton (Fletcher) Opie's 7 children. His father had 4 children by his first wife, Isabelle (Harmon) Opie, who had died in 1877. A graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, John Opie had served in the Stonewall Brigade in the Civil War and become a farmer after the war. He supported the family on a farm near Mount Sidney, Virginia valued at $25,000 in 1870. Evarts was educated in Staunton public schools, at the Staunton Military Academy and numerous military schools, including the Army Command and General Staff College. He began his newspaper career in 1904 as a carrier and held practically every position on The Staunton Leader staff during his 72 years with the company.

Evarts began his military career by enlisting as a musician/drummer in Co. A, 2nd Virginia Infantry, Virginia National Guard in 1907 at the age of thirteen. Opie was commissioned a first lieutenant in 1911 and participated in the Mexican Border conflict in 1916. He accepted a regular Army commission in the cavalry in 1917 and remained with the United States Liquidation Commission in France following his service there during World War I.

He returned to the newspaper in 1920 as city editor of The Staunton Leader. He afterwards served as advertising manager, managing editor and general manager.

Evarts remained active in the Virginia National Guard in peacetime and assumed command of the 116th Infantry Regiment (the Stonewall Brigade) in October 1940 and was promoted to colonel. He led the regiment into Federal service on 3 Feb 1941 and expanded it to war strength and training for combat overseas at Fort George Meade, Maryland. In September 1941 he was promoted to Brigadier General and assigned as deputy commander of the Infantry Replacement Training Camp at Fort Walters, Texas. Following World War II, he returned to Staunton and again resumed his newspaper career. MG Opie retired as board chairman and editor of The Staunton Leader Papers in 1979.

Opie was active in many civic and church affairs and a lifelong member of Trinity Episcopal Church. He was chairman of the State Hospital Board, the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace Foundation and a past president and charter year member of the Staunton Rotary Club.

MG Opie died on 12 Mar 1982 in Staunton, Virginia. He rests forever in Thornrose Cemetery in Staunton, Virginia. 

Evarts older brother, Hierome Lindsay Opie, was also a commander of the 116th Infantry Regiment and commanded the 3rd battalion of the regiment in WWI.

BG Morris Thompson Warner

BG Morris Thompson Warner was born 5 Sep 1899 in Bridgeport, West Virginia. He was the 2nd of 4 children born to Clary Hathaway and Cora N. (Thompson) Warner. His father sold stoneware. The family moved to Staunton, Virginia about 1917. Morris graduated from Staunton High School before attending Penn State College. With the arrival of war in 1918, Morris was selected to attend Officers Training Camp at Camp Gordon, Georgia and so was not  drafted. He was commissioned as a 2LT after graduation. 

The war being over, 2LT Morris returned home and began a civilian life deeply involved in community activities attending dances and playing second base for the Staunton Kiwanis Baseball Club among other things. 

Promoted to 1LT, Morris was assigned on 10 Aug 1922 as the Training and Plans Officer for the 116th Infantry Regiment commanded by COL Hierome Opie. In October of that same year he joined the Staunton Acca Temple Shriners and in November became the secretary-treasurer of the Staunton Section of the Army Association. 

In April 1923 he became engaged to Virginia Worthington, daughter of a prominent Staunton businessman. The couple was married on 19 Jun 1923. He was promoted to CPT in October 1923. Morris and Virginia had and lost an infant daughter on 24 Aug 1925. He joined the American Legion and the Trinity Episcopal Church Mens' Club. He also started the Staunton Novelty Company making pennants, banners and flags as well as a variety of other products. Another daughter was born on 23 May 1927.  In August 1928 CPT Warner was made Adjutant of the 116th Infantry. As he expanded his participation in the community he was also starting a business and was first noted as President of the Staunton Novelty Company in 1931 the same year in which he was made President of the Trinity Episcopal Church Mens' Club. Morris and Virginia had a son join the family on 4 Oct 1932.

1933 was a busy year for Morris, while he continued his other interests he joined the board of the Staunton Industrial Loan Corporation in March 1933, began a campaign for office of Staunton City Treasurer in April, was promoted to MAJ on 26 Jun 1933 and in July returned to duties as the Training and Plans officer of the regiment. More responsibilities came to Morris. In 1934 his company bought out the rival Beverly Manufacturing Company. A second son was born to his family on 30 Nov 1935. In February 1937 he was appointed as a member and then secretary of the Staunton City Electoral Board and in September he was elected to the board of the Augusta National Bank. MAJ Warner was appointed as a member of the Governor's Staff serving Virginia governor James Hubert Price.

The next decade began with the world drifting towards war and in August 1940 Morris was promoted to LTC and assumed command of 3rd Battalion 116th Infantry. His rank was federally recognized in January 1941 and he was made executive officer of 116th Infantry. He began a 3 month Battalion Commanders and Staff Officers course at Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia in February 1941 and resigned from Staunton Electoral Board due to his military commitment. The regiment was federalized and sent to Fort George Meade, Maryland while he was at Fort Benning. On his return to the regiment in April 1941 he assumed duties as instructor in charge of 29th Division junior officers school. As the regiment continued to train for deployment COL E. W. Opie was promoted and reassigned and LTC Warner assumed command of the 116th Infantry Regiment in September 1942 and commanded the unit as it arrived in England and began training there. He was succeeded by COL Canham in March 1943 and promoted to COL in August 1943 while commanding the 156th Infantry Regiment at the assault training center in England. He would lead that regiment onto the continent and in its mission of containing bypassed German units before making a final thrust at the end of the war. 

COL Warner returned to the U.S. in October 1945 and went into inactive status in November. Resuming his civilian life he was named to the Staunton Zoning Board of Appeals in May 1947. Morris also became active in the Staunton District of Boy Scouts of America and would be active in scouting administration for many years. In December 1950 he was elected President of Thornrose Cemetery Company, Inc. He participated in the 1954 ground-breaking for the Staunton's Thomas D. Howie National Guard Armory. 

COL Warner was made a Virginia State Brigadier General and was referred to by that rank. He suffered from Parkinson's in his later years and died of a heart attack on 17 Jan 1982. He was interred in Thornrose Cemetery in Staunton, Virginia.