Epperson (DDE 719) - Naval Cruise Book

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r USS EPPEHSON QDD-7195 Westerri Pacific Cruise 15 July-11 December 1970 1

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.:.,-sf .. . .. v- 1, .1 . 1 1' - .wg 1 , ri' '7':':'-1:1f- r . 1 -.ex :Qs-:::ae.:ff::.:?C.'ifv':i5e':i3b-ei:-2.'::3d js,Z2f 5'E5?LXfjE??i:F5l? Ei.'?j.vff Q23Za'f5f'f i7fiifflff?2hfEfZf12f'fffg71' '1'7f'-. L -.' If ' .' I Q' PFC Harold Glenn EPPERSON, USMC 41923-19441 Harold Glenn EPPERSON was born on the 14th of july 1923 in Akron, Ohio. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. jonett B. EPPERSON worked hard to raise their children and make ends meet during the slow dreary years of the depression which followed the post World War l boom. Like millions of other average American families who were beginning to know better times, the EPPERSONS were filled with anxiety and bewilderment at the mad whirl of war which followed in the wake of the 7th of December 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor. After a year of the new war had passed, Harold EPPERSON, who had by now reached the draft age, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves on 12 December 1942 at Cleveland, Ohio. When he was sent to Marine Corps Training at Camp Elliott, San Diego, California, his mother and father were only proud that their boy was able and willing to serve his country in the interests of freedom and world peace. By 15 May 1943 Private EPPERSON was in the field aiding the American forces in their campaign against the japanese in the Pacific. On the 6th of August 1943 EPPERSON was promoted to Private First Class and in November of that year was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for ,his part in the invasion of the Gilbert lslands. PFC EPPERSON continued to do his part in the battle for the Pacific, until 25 june 1944, during the invasion of the island of Saipan in the Mariana Islands, he gave his life on the battle scarred beach. For his meritorious service in the Battle of Saipan, Private First Class Harold Glenn EPPERSON was awarded the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously with 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 in 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, Private First Class Epperson manned his weapon with determined 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 own body. Stout-hearted 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.