Otis Culepper
Born: November 5, 1918
Died: August 27, 1944
Hometown: Meridian, Mississippi
Entered the Military: October 23, 1943
Branch of Service: U.S. Army
Org Unit: Company A, 314th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division
Serial No: 34875355
Rank: Private
Awards: Purple Heart
Memorialized: Plot B Row 12 Grave 1 Brittany American Cemetery, France
Died: August 27, 1944
Hometown: Meridian, Mississippi
Entered the Military: October 23, 1943
Branch of Service: U.S. Army
Org Unit: Company A, 314th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division
Serial No: 34875355
Rank: Private
Awards: Purple Heart
Memorialized: Plot B Row 12 Grave 1 Brittany American Cemetery, France
Family
Otis Culpepper, born on November 5, 1918 in Arkansas, joined the U.S. Army on October 23, 1943. Before joining the U.S. Army, Culpepper lived in Lauderdale County, near Meridian. He worked as a farm hand after completing grammar school. He was accompanied in Meridian by his sister, though most of his family including his mother lived in Texas and Arkansas. Culpepper had a rather large family, with three sisters – Blanche, Frances, and Mary – and one brother – John.
Otis was the second youngest of his family and grew up in Rison, Arkansas. His father, Robert Culpepper (November 13, 1876 – November 20, 1934), a veteran of WW I, worked on his own farm to provide for the family and was married to Willie Talula “Lula” Herrington (December 25, 1879 – July 4, 1950) who raised their many children.
Otis grew up around his older siblings, and after some time he likely became the only child in the household as he was much younger than the rest. His sister, Blanche (1906 – ?) moved away after she got married in 1920 when Otis was only two years old. She would eventually make her way to Meridian, Mississippi to work as a clerk. Francis Culpepper (1908 – 1982) married and moved to Queen City, Texas with her husband, Willie Earl Odom. She would continue to live in Texas until her death in 1982. Mary Emma Culpepper (1911 – 1984) also married and moved to Texarkana, Texas. Otis and his mother later moved to live with Mary and Otis registered for the draft while he was there; they were quite close. John, his only brother, died in 1934 at only 18 years old from an unknown cause. He is buried at Greenwood cemetery in Rison, Arkansas.
Otis was the second youngest of his family and grew up in Rison, Arkansas. His father, Robert Culpepper (November 13, 1876 – November 20, 1934), a veteran of WW I, worked on his own farm to provide for the family and was married to Willie Talula “Lula” Herrington (December 25, 1879 – July 4, 1950) who raised their many children.
Otis grew up around his older siblings, and after some time he likely became the only child in the household as he was much younger than the rest. His sister, Blanche (1906 – ?) moved away after she got married in 1920 when Otis was only two years old. She would eventually make her way to Meridian, Mississippi to work as a clerk. Francis Culpepper (1908 – 1982) married and moved to Queen City, Texas with her husband, Willie Earl Odom. She would continue to live in Texas until her death in 1982. Mary Emma Culpepper (1911 – 1984) also married and moved to Texarkana, Texas. Otis and his mother later moved to live with Mary and Otis registered for the draft while he was there; they were quite close. John, his only brother, died in 1934 at only 18 years old from an unknown cause. He is buried at Greenwood cemetery in Rison, Arkansas.
Job Experience
Otis probably helped his father with general farm work and using that experience, in Mississippi, he worked as a general farmer. Otis’s grandparents on both sides were from Mississippi even though he grew up in Arkansas. This may have been the reason he moved to Meridian, or he could have moved to be closer to his sister, Blanche. After working as a farmer, he got a job at the Coca-Cola Bottling Factory, which is still in operation today as a distribution center.
Pictured Above: 314 Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division