World War II Honoree

Harold Glenn Epperson

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Akron, Ohio

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

HE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, U.S. MARINE CORPS RESERVE. BORN: JULY 14, 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, 2ND MARINE DIVISION, IN ACTION AGAINST ENEMY JAPANESE FORCES ON THE ISLAND OF SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS ON JUNE 25, 1944. WITH HIS MACHINE GUN EMPLACEMENT BEARING THE FULL BRUNT OF A FANATIC ASSAULT INITIATED BY THE JAPANESE UNDER COVER OF PREDAWN DARKNESS, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS 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, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS 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, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS 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.'