Medal of Honor: William David Epperson – World War II – June 25, 1944

Name: William David Epperson
Rank: Private First Class
Branch: U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
War: World War II
Unit: 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division
Date of Action: June 25, 1944
Location: Saipan, Mariana Islands

Summary of Action

During the bitter fighting for Saipan on 25 June 1944, Private First Class William David Epperson served with the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines as Japanese forces launched a determined predawn attack against Marine positions.

Under the cover of darkness, enemy soldiers infiltrated toward the battalion lines in an attempt to break through the American defenses.

Epperson's machine-gun position absorbed the full force of the assault.

Remaining at his weapon despite the danger, he delivered a steady stream of accurate fire into the advancing enemy, helping to break up the attack and inflicting heavy casualties among the Japanese troops.

As the fighting raged around the position, a Japanese soldier who had been believed dead suddenly rose and threw a hand grenade directly into the machine-gun emplacement.

The grenade landed among the Marines with only moments before detonation.

Recognizing that his comrades had no time to escape, Epperson made an instantaneous decision.

Without hesitation and fully aware of the consequences, he threw himself upon the grenade, covering it with his body.

The explosion killed him instantly, but his sacrifice shielded the other Marines in the emplacement from the blast.

His courageous action saved the lives of his fellow Marines and allowed them to continue defending the battalion's position during the Japanese assault.

Private First Class William D. Epperson's extraordinary courage, self-sacrifice, and devotion to his comrades reflected the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the Naval Service.

Medal of Honor Citation

EPPERSON, WILLIAM DAVID

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, 2nd Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on the Island of Saipan in the Marianas on 25 June 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 United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.