World War II Honoree

Robert Francis Epperson

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Tampa, Florida

Honored By

George Lee American Legion Post 532

HE JOINED THE U.S. NAVY IN MARCH 1944 AT AGE 15 WITH HIS PARENTS PERMISSION. FINISHING BASIC TRAINING, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA, IN THE BASE COMMISSARY FOR A TWO YEAR PERIOD AS COOK. HE WAS OFFERED A SECOND CLASS PETTY OFFICER RATING IF HE WOULD TAKE A TEST AND 'SHIP OVER'. HOWEVER, AT THAT TIME, HE BECAME ELIGIBLE FOR SEPARATION FROM ACTIVE DUTY BECAUSE HE ACCUMULATED A CERTAIN NUMBER OF POINTS. DECIDING AGAINST TAKING A TEST, HE WAS THEN DISCHARGED AS FIRST CLASS SEAMAN. WHILE SERVING IN THE NAVY, IN THE SUMMER OF 1945, HE ASSISTED IN CAPTURING THE CREW FROM A GERMAN SUB WHO WERE TRYING TO DISMANTLE A RADAR STATION ON FLAGLER BEACH, FLORIDA. ANOTHER INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN HE AND HIS BUDDIES WERE DISPATCHED TO ASSIST IN RETRIEVING THE CARNAGE RESULTING FROM A MID AIR COLLISION.