2LT Harry Edgar Tepper

2LT Harry Edgar Tepper was born 6 Jan 1913 in Chicago, Illinois. He was the first of the 3 children born to Harry Charles and Byrde Evans (Harris) Tepper. His father and many other family members earned their livelihoods working for the Illinois Central Rail Road and the Tepper family lived at 5711 Harper Avenue in Chicago. Young Harry would eventually also work for the Illinois Central after he graduated from Hyde Park High School where he was in ROTC and on the rifle team. He then worked as a bookkeeper for Cribben and Sexton Company, a stove manufacturer. He married Beatrice Iva (Bowsher) Johnson in 1941 becoming a step-father to her son Carl Frederick Johnson. The couple had a daughter, Darlene Joyce Tepper, in September 1942.

Harry was drafted in June 1942, before his daughter was born, and was selected for officer candidate training which he attended. After completing his training he was sent to England and assigned to F Company 116th Infantry as a Platoon Leader. He trained with his unit for the planned amphibious operation and took part in the D-Day landings on 6 Jun 1944. Wounded on 11 Jul 1944 he was evacuated and sent to hospital where he recovered. A little over a month later he was returned to France and transferred from the replacement depot to F Company again on 19 Aug 1944. According to the morning reports he was assigned as Company Commander on 4 Sep 1944 although still a 2LT. 2LT Tepper was killed in action the next day, 5 Sep 1944. 

2LT Tepper rests forever in the Brittany American Cemetery.