Epperson (DD 719) - Naval Cruise Book

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4- I. In Memorium ' Harold Glenn EPPEFISON was born on the 14th of July 1923 in the big rubber city of Akron, Ohio. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jonett B.,EPPERSON worked hard to raise their children and make ends meet during the slow years of the depression which followed the post World War I boom. Like missions of other average American families who were beginning to know better times the Epperson's were filled with bewilderment at the mad whirl of war which followed in the wake of the 7 December 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor. After a year of the new war had passed, and the American armies were still being defeated on all fronts, Harold EPPERSON, who had by now reached the draft age, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves on 12 December 1942 in Cleveland, Ohio. When he was sent to Marine Corps training at Camp Elliot, San Diego, his mother and father, little doubting that their son would return home to them again, 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, however, Private EPPERSON was in the field aiding the American forces in their campaign to ward off the Japanese offensive in the Pacific. On the 6th day 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 Gilbert Islands invasion. After receiving this honor, PFC EPPEFISON continued to do his part in the battle for the Pacific, until on 25 June 1944, during the invasion of the island of Saipan in the Mariana Islands, this gallant hero of the Asiatic Pacific Campaign gave his life on the battle scarred beach. . For his meritorious' service in the Battle of Saipan, Private First Class Harold Glenn EPPEFISON was awarded posthumously the Medal of Honor.

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COIVIIVIANDING OFFICER X f W 1 A ,W ,s .. ff X 1 if 1... 1 ', 5 Z , f Commander Joe Camp Commander Joe Don CAMP was born in Fort Worth, Texas on 1 August 1934. He graduated from the University of Corpus Christi fTexasJ with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1956. After attending OCS, he was commissioned an Ensign on 3 May 1957. After being commissioned Ensign, he reported aboard USS HOLLISTER QDD-7881, where he served in the Operations Department for three years, becom- ing Operations Officer prior to being transferred. From HOLLISTER, he received orders to Staff, FAAWTC, San Diego, California, where he served as a CIC Instructor. In October 1961, he reported to the Staff, Com- mander Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla SEVEN as the Communications Officer. After two-years in that billet he reported to Navy Sub-Section, Military Assistance Advisory Group, Republic of China, as an ASW ad- visor. Following this he served as XO of USS EVERSOLE QDD-7891 and then on to the staff of COMDESRON NINETEEN as Chief Staff Officer. Subsequently, he reported to Staff, Commander U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam as Transpor- tation Officer, and then was assigned as Logistics Plans Officer at Staff, Commander Military Sealift Command. Prior to reporting aboard EPPERSON, Com- mander CAMP was a student at American University where he received a Masters of Business Administra- tion Degree in Transportation.