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World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Pfc. Harold Glenn Epperson, USMC
World War II 1941-1945
Medal of Honor Recipient
The Medal of Honor--America's highest military award--awarded posthumously to Private First Class Harold Glenn Epperson, was presented to his mother at rites Wednesday, 4 July 1945 in Tiger Stadium, Massillon, Ohio. PFC Epperson lost his life in action against the Japanese 25 June 1944, on Saipan .
The setting of the presentation was appropriate-the stadium, the Massillon High School Band and 8,500 of the townspeople among who the 20-year-old hero spent his childhood and youth before entering military service.
The Medal of Honor was presented to PFC Epperson's mother, Mrs. Jonett B. Epperson, by Colonel Norman E. True, district Marine officer of the 9th Naval District and commanding officer of the Marine Barracks at Great Lakes, Illinois.
Mr. and Mrs. Epperson, 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 Truman, and a letter from General Alexander A. Vandegrift , Commandant of the Marine Corps were read by Colonel True:
"With his machine gun emplacement bearing the full brunt of a fanatic assault initiated by the Japanese under cover of pre-dawn darkness, PFC 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, PFC Epperson unhesitatingly chose to sacrifice himself and, diving upon the deadly missile, absorbed the shattering violence of the exploding charge in his own body."
PFC Epperson was graduated from Washington High School in 1943 and was employed at Goodyear Aircraft in Akron before entering service.
The USS Epperson, a destroyer bearing the hero's name, was launched 23 December 1945, at Port Newark, New Jersey.
PFC Epperson was initially buried in the 2d Marine Division Cemetery on Saipan, Marianas Islands. His remains were reinterred in Winchester Cemetery, Winchester, Kentucky, in 1948.
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CITATION:
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Born: 14 July 1923, Akron, Ohio. Accredited to: Ohio. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, 2d Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on the Island of Saipan in the Marianas, on 25 June 1944. With his machinegun emplacement bearing the full brunt of a fanatic assault initiated by the Japanese under cover of predawn darkness, Pfc. Epperson manned his weapon with determined aggressiveness, fighting furiously in the 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, Pfc. Epperson 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, Pfc. Epperson fearlessly yielded his own life that his able comrades might carry on the relentless battle against a ruthless enemy. His superb valor and unfaltering devotion to duty throughout reflect the highest credit upon himself and upon the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Courtesy of Find A Grave
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