Everett P. Pope
| Everett P. Pope | |
|---|---|
 
Major Everett P. Pope, Medal of Honor recipient
|
|
| Birth name | Everett Parker Pope |
| Born |
July 16, 1919 Milton, Massachusetts |
| Died | July 16, 2009 (aged 90) Bath, Maine |
| Place of burial | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Marine Corps
|
| Years of service | 1941–1951 |
| Rank |
 Major
|
| Unit | 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division |
| Battles/wars |
World War II • Guadalcanal Campaign • Battle of Cape Gloucester • Battle of Peleliu |
| Awards |
Medal of Honor Bronze Star Purple Heart |
Major Everett Parker Pope (July 16, 1919–July 16, 2009) was a United States Marine who received the Medal of Honor for his conspicuous gallantry on Peleliu in September 1944 while leading his men in an assault on a strategic hill, and for holding it, with rocks and bare fists when ammunition ran low, against Japanese suicide attacks.
Pope was born on July 16, 1919 in Milton, Massachusetts, the son of Laurence Everett Pope and Ruth Parker Pope. He later moved to North Quincy, where he graduated from North Quincy High School in 1936. He attended Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, and excelled in both academics and athletics. He was the captain of the state-champion tennis team and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society and the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Shortly after graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in French in June 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.
In about 1942, Pope married his high school sweetheart, Eleanor Hawkins. The couple had two sons, Laurence E. and Ralph H. Pope.Laurence later served as the U.S. Ambassador to Chad.
After basic training, Pope attended Officer Candidate School and, on November 1, 1941, was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve. He trained at Quantico, Virginia, and New River, North Carolina, prior to going overseas in June 1942 with 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. On August 7, 1942, as the leader of a machine gun platoon, he participated in the landing and action at Guadalcanal.
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