Epperhart, Ernest E. (P2, C2, L16)

Technician Fifth Grade Ernest Elmo Epperhart was born 27 September 1921, at Manbar, West Virginia. He enlisted in Company G, 149th Infantry, Kentucky National Guard at Ashland on 26 October 1940. At the time of enlistment he was living at Morehead, Rowan County, Kentucky.

Technician fifth grade (abbreviated as T/5 or TEC 5) was equivalent to a Corporal in the noncommissioned officer ranks but signified the holder as having specialized training. It is unknown at this time what his duties and technical training might have been.

He was inducted into federal service on 18 January 1941. While on active duty he was transferred to the 255th Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division. He was serving with Company I of the 3rd Battalion at the time of his death on 16 February 1945.  While no documentation of the circumstances of his death have been found, he was killed in action and his unit was in combat in the area around Sarreguemines, France along the Saar / Blies River in northeastern France and very near the border with Germany. The 63rd arrived in France on 8 December 1944 and was assigned to the Rhine River area. In late December they moved to Northern Alsace region.

Epperhart’s remains were likely returned after the war and he now rests in the Mount Pisgah Cemetery, Bluestone, Rowan County.

See Also: 255th Infantry Regiment Operational Reports History

http://www.63rdinfdiv.com/files/255th_Infantry_Regiment_Operational_Reports_History_.pdf

Photos courtesy of Ashley Chew

ERNEST ELMO EPPERHART
    Date of entrance in service: January 18, 1940
    Branch of service: National Guards
    Trained at: Ashland. Kentucky; Camp Shelby, Mississippi;
    Transferred to Air Corps in 1943 and back to infantry in 1944.
    Date of embarkation: November 1, 1944
    Theater of operations: European.
    Medals earned: Gold Star.
    Rank: Technician. Fifth Grade.
    Served: Forty-nine months
   Remarks: Killed in Action February 16, 1945 in France with the 7th Army.