Harold G . Epperson Private First Class Harold Glenn Epperson , USMCR ( July 14 , 1923 , Akron , Ohio - June 25 , 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 the World War II Battle of Saipan . Biography . Harold Glenn Epperson was born July 14 , 1923 in Akron , Ohio . 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 December 12 , 1942 . A 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 . PFC Epperson died in action against the Japanese on Saipan on June 25 , 1944 when he threw himself upon an enemy grenade in order to save the lives of his fellow Marines . Epperson ' s Medal of Honor was presented to his mother in a ceremony on Wednesday , July 4 , 1945 in Tiger Stadium , Massillon , Ohio , with the Massillon High School Band and 8 , 500 of the people of the town where Epperson grew up . The medal was presented by Col . Norman E . True , district Marine officer of the 9th Naval District and commanding officer of the Marine Barracks at Great Lakes , Illinois . Epperson ' s parents , who moved to Mt . Sterling , Kentucky following their son ' s death , returned 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 . Initially buried in the 2nd Marine Division Cemetery on Saipan , Marianas Islands , PFC Epperson ' s remains were re - interred in Winchester Cemetery , Winchester , Kentucky , in 1948 . Medal of Honor citation . Rank and organization : 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 , 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 . USS Epperson . The , a destroyer named in honor of HG Epperson , was launched on December 23 , 1945 , in Port Newark , New Jersey .