US General Irving Morrell made Salem his headquarters when he was assigned to defend the Ohio front in 1942 during the Confederate Operation Coalscuttle. Morrell was horrified to discover that his predecessor had scattered the available barrels across the countryside for infantry support in following standard Great War doctrine. He sent messengers with written orders to have the armor concentrate a few miles north of Salem. He then telegraphed false orders to concentrate west of Salem. The Salem town square boasted a large statue of Edwin Coppock.