Harold G. Epperson
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| Harold Glenn Epperson | |
|---|---|
| July 4, 1923 - June 25, 1944 | |
  Harold G. Epperson, Medal of Honor recipient |
|
| Place of birth | Akron, Ohio |
| Place of death | KIA at Saipan |
| Allegiance | USMC |
| Years of service | 1942-1944 |
| Rank | Private First Class |
| Unit | 1st Battalion 6th Marines |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Saipan |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Private First Class Harold Glenn Epperson, USMCR (14 July 1923, Akron, Ohio - 25 June 1944, at Saipan was a United States Marine who posthumously received the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military honor, for his actions during the World War II Battle of Saipan.
PFC Epperson died in action against the Japanese on Saipan on 25 June 1944 when he threw himself upon an enemy grenade in order to save the lives of his fellow Marines.
A member of the 1st Battalion 6th Marines, he also shared in the Presidential Unit Citation awarded his organization for its service at the Battle of Tarawa.
Epperson's Medal of Honor was presented to his mother at rites on Wednesday, 4 July 1945 in Tiger Stadium, Massillon, Ohio.
The setting of the presentation was appropriate — the stadium, the Massillon High School Band and 8,500 of the townspeople among whom the 20-year-old hero spent his childhood and youth before entering military service. Born in Akron, Ohio, Epperson grew up in Massillon and graduated from Washington High School there in 1941. He was employed at Goodyear Aircraft in Akron before enlisting in the Marine Corps Reserve on 12 December 1942.
The Medal of Honor was presented to PFC Epperson's mother by Col. Norman E. True, district Marine officer of the 9th Naval District and commanding officer of the Marine Barracks at Great Lakes, Illinois. PFC Epperson's parents, who moved to Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, following their son's death, elected to return to Massillon for the ceremonies because they felt their son "would have liked it that way." The citation signed by President Harry S. Truman and a letter from Gen. Alexander A. Vandegrift, Commandant of the Marine Corps, were read by Col. True during the ceremony.
The USS Epperson (DD-719), a destroyer bearing the hero's name, was launched 23 December 1945, in Port Newark, New Jersey.
Initially buried in the 2nd Marine Division Cemetery on Saipan, Marianas Islands, PFC Epperson's remains were re-interred in Winchester Cemetery, Winchester, Kentucky, in 1948.
[edit] Medal of Honor citation
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS HAROLD G. EPPERSON
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the First Battalion, Sixth Marines, Second Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on the Island of Saipan, the Marianas, on 25 June 1944. With his machine-gun emplacement bearing the full brunt of a fanatic assault initiated by the Japanese under cover of pre-dawn darkness, aggressiveness, fighting furiously in defense of his battalion's position and maintaining a steady stream of devastating fire against rapidly infiltrating hostile troops to aid materially in annihilating several of the enemy and in breaking the abortive attack. Suddenly a Japanese soldier, assumed to be dead, sprang up and hurled a powerful hand grenade into the emplacement. Determined to save his comrades, Private First Class Epperson unhesitatingly chose to sacrifice himself and, diving upon the deadly missile, absorbed the shattering violence of the exploding charge in his body. Stouthearted and indomitable in the face of certain death, Private First Class Epperson Fearlessly yielded his own life that his able comrades might carry on the relentless battle against a ruthless enemy, and his superb valor and unfaltering devotion to duty throughout reflect the highest credit upon himself and upon the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
/S/ HARRY S. TRUMAN
[edit] References
- This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps and the United States Navy.
