“Dateline, Washington. President Roosevelt made the startling announcement today during an impromptu radio address to the nation: America has its first super-man.” — Ralph Reynolds, 10 November 1941.
Name: Lawrence Clyde Moreland AKA The Indestructible Man, The World’s Smartest Bomb.
Nationality: American.
Political Affiliation: None.
Education: Some Grade School.
Rank: Ensign (U.S. Navy), captain (U.S. Army).
Decorations: Purple Heart, Silver Star, Distinguished Service Medal, O.B.E. (England).
DOB: 4/13/11, Booth, U.S.A.
DOD: 2/14/77, Lynhaven Roads, U.S.A.
Known Parahuman Abilities:Moreland was immune to the effects of any damage inflicted on his body, as long as he knew it was coming. This immunity encompassed radiation, cold, heat, friction, acid and nearly every other force that would usually damage the human body. Equipment and clothing in Moreland’s possession were not protected. He was completely normal otherwise, subject to damage and death just as a normal human, provided he had no indication damage was forthcoming.
History: Moreland was born in Booth, Virginia to a poor coal mining family. At thirteen, Lawrence (Clyde to his friends) was forced to work in the mines to support his ailing father. Because of this, Moreland learned quickly to despise his family, who he believed stole his childhood. His obligation to his siblings and mother kept him around, at least for a time.
When his father died of “black lung” in 1933 and jobs in the area began to dry up, Moreland left Booth and joined the U.S. Navy to avoid the growing effects of the Great Depression. He worked for four years onboard smaller ships in the Lynhaven Roads yards. The work pleased him, and he stayed on for another term of service. Soon, it was the only thing he could imagine doing.
In 1941 with the growing hostilities in the Atlantic, Moreland was itching to get into the thick of real combat. He was assigned to the DD 245, the Reuben James in January 1941, and rode on three convoy runs to Britain and North Africa before the James was sunk.
After his Talent manifestation, Moreland was reassigned to the Department of the Army under the direct orders of President Roosevelt. Endless propaganda reels demonstrating his invulnerability were made for public consumption. As America’s first parahuman, he was a combination hero, super-star and role model. Endless books, comic books, novelizations and movies came out during the next five years fictionalizing his (up to that point) rather boring life.
In late 1942, Moreland began training with the fledgling Commando school at Achnacarry Castle. As The leader of Talent Operation Group 1, he served on eleven missions into occupied countries. In addition, he was on the first wave of the Section Two First Talent Assault Group sent in on the Overlord invasion, to soften up the enemy on D-Day.
Moreland was friendly with many Talents, and known as a down-to-earth, capable warrior. A small hub of international parahumans operating out of England became fast friends later in the war, among their numbers wereCien, Vogel, Aesgir, Jumping Johnny and of course, the Indestructible Man.
Moreland was infuriated by the death of Cien during Operation Market Garden in late 1944, and swore to hunt down the Ubermensch responsible for it, Krieg. He was also officially reprimanded in 1945 for making public statements against Field Marshal Montgomery, the British General who devised the ill-fated airborne operation.
In 1945, Moreland’s wish came true, as he and Vogel confrontedKrieg in the ruins of Leipzig. Moreland executed the German (who was attempting to surrender) with a direct bazooka shot to the head. Vogel’s testimony on his behalf during the court-martial hearings that followed saved Moreland’s career and reputation, without them, he might have served prison time.
After the war, Moreland was a popular figure in the news. In 1955, he survived a ten-megaton explosion at the TRINITY testing grounds, walking away from the blast with only his hair messed up. This feat has yet to be topped by any other Talent. Three movies were even made, based on his highly modified fictional life.
This popularity ended in 1958 however, with the release of a book called Prodigal Son. Written by his youngest brother Stuart Moreland (who Moreland had not seen in years,) the book detailed his foul temper, drinking and racism, as well as the abandonment of his family in the midst of the Great Depression. Always eager to participate in the fall of a star, the public ate it up. With this scandal, more stories on Moreland’s life (both true and fictional) were printed.
Moreland’s star declined further in the 1960s, with stories of his reprehensible conduct during the war towards Jewish POWs and blacks popping up from time to time.
However, these stories appeared with less and less frequency as the world slowly forgot about him.
In 1977, in Lynhaven Roads Virginia, Lawrence Moreland was found dead in his tiny apartment, a victim of liver failure due to excessive drinking. He was 66 years old.
America’s Indestructible Man had finally self-destructed.
Click HERE to download a GODLIKE character sheet for The Indestructible Man.