Our Namesake

Harold G. Epperson  VFW Post 2728

  Private First Class Harold Glenn Epperson, USMCR born14 July 1923, Akron, Ohio - died 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 theWorld 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. As 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. Col. Norman E. True, district Marine officer of the 9th Naval District and commanding officer of the Marine Barracks at Great Lakes, Illinois, presented the Medal of Honor to PFC Epperson’s mother.  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 the Winchester Cemetery, Winchester, Kentucky.