Epperson (DD 719) - Naval Cruise Book

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USS EPPERSON (DD 719) EPPERSON (DD 719) is a Gearing Class Destroyer whose primary missions are anti-air warfare. She measures 106 feet from waterline to mast tip, is 391 feet long, 40 feet wide at her beam and has a speed in excess of 30 knots. She has a crew of approximately 18 officers and 260 enlisted men. The construction of EPPERSON was originally approved during World War II. Her keel was laid in June 1945 at the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Kearney, New Jer- sey. Construction was stopped at the end of World War II and the uncompleted hull was towed to Boston Naval Shipyard where it remained until she was completed by Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, and commissioned on 19 March 1949. The ship is named after Private First Class Harold Glen EPPERSON, USMC, who won with his valor and his life the Nation ' s highest decoration, the Congressional Medal of Honor, on Saipan during World War II. Extensive sea trials were conducted in the Key West, Florida area September 1950 at which time EPPERSON was transferred to Pearl Harbor. In 1951 and 1952 she saw service with the United Nations Forces in Korea and in 1954 with the U.S. Seventh Fleet Formosa Straits Patrol. Routine deployments to the Western Pacific with anti-submarine groups have been made by EPPERSON since 1955. She participated in the 1958 High Altitude Nuclear Tests at Johnson Island; and in 1962 she was stationed in the mid-pacific as a recovery vessel for Colonel John Glenn ' s historic flight. In October of the same year she was part of the recovery force for astronaut Walter Schirra ' s successful six orbit flight, and later in 1963 for the re- covery of astronaut Gordon Cooper. Since 1965, EPPERSON has completed seven deployments to the Western Pacific. During these operations with the U.S. Seventh Fleet she has participated in extensive gunfire support missions in support of U.S. Forces in South Vietnam, and as a unit of Operation Sea Dragon, EPPERSON made numerous raids against enemy installations along the coast of North Viet- nam. The successful completion of these gunfire missions, along with search and rescue mis- sions, and support of Attack Carrier Forces has indeed kept EPPERSON, a unit of Destroyer Squadron Eleven, On The Way .

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PFC Harold Glenn Epperson, USMC (1923-1944) 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 I 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 in- terests 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 pro- moted to Private First Class and in November of that year was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation in his part in the invasion of the Gilbert Islands. 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 serv- ice 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 frantic 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 e nemy 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 Epper- son unhesitatingly chose to sacrifice himself and, diving upon the deadly missile, absorbed the shattering violence of the exploding charge in his own 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.

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Commanding Officer