US People--Pope, Everett P., Major, USMCR.

PEOPLE--UNITED STATES

Major Everett P. Pope, USMCR, (Resigned), (1919-2009)

Everett Parker Pope was born on 16 July 1919 in Milton, Massachusetts. He relocated to Brunswick, Maine, and graduated from Bowdoin College. In November 1941, he was commissioned from his native state a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Following training at Quantico, Virginia, and New River, North Carolina, he was ordered to the First Battalion, First Marines. In June 1942, he departed for combat duty in the Pacific war zone. That August, Pope led a machine gun platoon at the Battle of Guadalcanal. In March 1943, he was promoted to Captain. Following a rest period in Melbourne, Australia, he participated at the Battle of Cape Glouchester at New Britain.

On 19-20 September 1944, Pope served as Commanding Officer of Company C, First Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division in action against Japanese forces on Peleliu Island, Palau Group. Coming under heavy fire and with his company disorganized from the attack, he rallied his men together to hold their newly won ground and valiantly led them to beat back or destroy the enemy. Eventually resorting to hand-to-hand combat during the night, Pope maintained his line over night until ordered to withdrawal in the morning. For his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" on this occasion, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

In January 1945, Pope was promoted to Major and received orders to study Japanese language at Yale University. Completing his studies, he was ordered to Marine Headquarters in Washington, D.C. In July 1946, he entered the inactive reserves and commanded the Second Infantry Battalion, at Hingham, Massachusetts. When the U.S. entered the Korean War, he served as the Executive Officer of the Third Battalion, Second Marines at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In September 1951, he reverted back to the inactive reserves and resigned his commission. For his civilian career, he worked in the banking industry. Everett P. Pope died on 16 July 2009 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.

This page features the only image we have concerning Everett P. Pope.

Photo #: NH 106424

Captain Everett P. Pope, USMC

Halftone reproduction of a photograph, copied from the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 243.
Everett P. Pope was awarded the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" while serving as Commanding Officer of Company C, First Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division during action against the Japanese on Peleliu Island, Palau Group, 19-20 September 1944.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph

Online Image: 51KB; 580 x 765 pixels

Medal of Honor citation of Captain Everett Parker Pope, USMC (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 243):

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Commanding Officer of Company C, First Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu Island, Palau Group, on 19-20 September 1944. Subjected to point-blank cannon fire which caused heavy casualties and badly disorganized his company while assaulting a steep coral hill, Captain Pope rallied his men and gallantly led them to the summit in the face of machine-gun, mortar and sniper fire. Forced by widespread hostile attack to deploy the remnants of his company thinly in order to hold the ground won, and with his machine guns out of order and insufficient water and ammunition, he remained on the exposed hill with 12 men and 1 wounded officer, determined to hold through the night. Attacked continuously with grenades, machine guns and rifles from three sides, he and his valiant men fiercely beat back or destroyed the enemy, resorting to hand-to-hand combat as the supply of ammunition dwindled, and still maintaining his lines with eight remaining riflemen when daylight brought more deadly fire and he was ordered to withdraw. His valiant leadership against devastating odds while protecting the units below from heavy Japanese attack reflects the highest credit upon Captain Pope and the United States Naval Service."

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