Richard Jepsen was born in 1925 and graduated from Raymond Rural High School in 1942. Jepsen spent nearly 40 years in the Active Army. He served in the US Army during WW II as a combat infantryman with the 30th Infantry Division in Europe. General Eisenhower historians rated his division as the #1 division with the most consistent and efficient battle service in Europe. Jepsen landed on Omaha Beach July 4, 1944 and served as Instrument Corporal and machine gunner in Company D, 120th Infantry Regiment in the five major battle campaign from Normandy to the Elbe River. He was discharged in November 1945.