John Rhodie Copsey was born August 2, 1922 in Laurel Grove, MD. The second of five grandchildren, born to Armistead Arthur Copsey and Daisy Mary (Burch). He attended schools in St. Mary’s County and later moved to Baltimore to live with his mother and to work in the defense industry. At age 21, he was drafted into the Army and served for three years with the Seventh Division. His first tour of duty was in the Aleutian Islands. After the islands were recaptured from the Japanese he was sent to the East Indies, The Philippines, the Ryukyus, and Okinawa. It was from Okinawa that he was to be sent in the first invasion force to Japan, but the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan and his division was diverted with the occupation troops to Korea. He was sent home from there and discharged at Ft. Meade on December 2, 1945. He was the recipient of the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, two Bronze Stars with arrowhead, and World War II Victory Medal. After his discharge, he was self-employed in the wholesale florist business and auto mechanic and filling stations. He retired and lived […]
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