Bedford's contribution to Operation Overlord inspires 'Tuesday Mourning'

On Oct 3, a few carloads of Waynesboro Players set out on a field trip. The cast and crew of this year’s season opener “Tuesday Morning” were not headed to a theater or playhouse, but to the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford.

After reading a book about the “Bedford Boys,” Waynesboro resident and playwright Duane Hahn decided to tell the story of six men from Bedford that fought on D-Day. The National D-Day Memorial is located in Bedford because it was hit hardest in terms of D-Day fatalities per capita of anywhere in the United States. On June 6, 1944, 19 soldiers were killed from this town of 3200.

Hahn wanted his cast to get a better feel for their roles by visiting the memorial and meeting the sister of two soldiers portrayed in the play.

Lucille Hoback lost her brothers, Bedford and Raymond, on D-Day, and the spry 88-year-old greeted the Players with hugs.

“We are really glad you are doing this. We really appreciate it,” said Hoback.

Hoback’s older brother, Bedford, was killed as the company landed on Omaha Beach. The younger brother, Raymond, was wounded and reported missing in action. The only possession of Raymond’s that was recovered was his Bible, found by another soldier and mailed back to Virginia.

“Mother said if they left home together they should stay together,” said Hoback. So Bedford is buried in France, where his brother’s name is listed on the wall of the missing.

“After my brothers were killed, mother didn’t think we should do anything fun if our brothers weren’t there to do it with us,” said Hoback.

She said many people in Bedford didn’t talk about the tragedy much until years later. Now the D-Day memorial is open year-round to visitors, including the few WWII veterans still living. The last surviving Bedford Boy, Ray Nance, died last April at age 94.

Jim Belcher, a former member of the air force who accompanied the Players, including his wife, Sandy, to Bedford, said the play is important to veterans.

“Veterans want young people to be connected to their story,” said Belcher. “It’s really important to them that their stories don’t die with them.”

Some of the Players had never been cast as real people before.

One of Cassy Maxton’s roles is as a telegraph operator in Bedford. She receives the news of all the men that have been killed and has to tell their families.

“I can’t imagine getting a message that all these guys I know have died,” said Maxton. “It’s an even heavier responsibility to tell someone’s real story.”

Sandy Belcher portrays “woman,” a general character that is a combination of mothers and wives in the show, including Bedford’s girlfriend.

“I say Bedford was wild, is that true?” she asked his sister.

“Probably,” answered Hoback. “Bedford was fun-loving, my other brother was more serious.” She said Bedford once got busted for eating a sandwich in ranks.

After visiting with Hoback the Players toured the memorial. They found the names of their roles listed on a wall of soldiers killed in action.

“Did you find male chorus one?” Hahn joked, interrupting the visit’s solemnness.

In the middle of the memorial there are statues of soldiers raiding a beach with fountains spurting around them, giving the illusion of bullets hitting the water.

“Anytime you visit a memorial, there’s a feeling you get,” said Belcher. “I think it will really bring the story home to our hearts.”

The play “Tuesday Morning,” will be performed Nov. 5-8, prior to Veteran’s Day. This year also marks the 65th anniversary of D-Day.

Richard Addams wrote all original music for the play and director Michael Waltz has been flying back and forth from Chicago to participate.

“There are stories you don’t hear, but if you come to see them it makes you feel like you are a part of everything,” said Hahn.

Hahn said he wrote “Tuesday Morning” because, although he grew up and taught in Waynesboro for years, he never knew of the Bedford Boys’ story, even though it was a story from just “down the road.”

He wanted others to learn of the soldiers’ sacrifice.

Said Hahn, “It’s more personal to me [now].”