In the 1940's the pier was commandeered by the military for use during in World War II. Over 1.3 million troops marched from nearby Camp Shanks to the end of the pier where ships waited to take them to France in support of D-Day invasion forces. 
The photos below show partial views of Piermont Pier. Located on the west bank of the Hudson River, this was the principal embarking point of GIs heading for the European Theater. The soldiers were usually marched from nearby Camp Shanks, Orangeburg (Staging Area for NY POE) to the end of the pier where ships were waiting to take them overseas. This is also the pier from which the SS “Pasteur” hospital ship left for overseas. After the war, over half a million men returned home, setting foot back in the US across the same pier.