Perry Melton Culpepper

Male, #3586, (31 Dec 1917 - 9 Sep 1996)

Parent*Samuel Jackson Culpepper (9 Jul 1884 - 3 Jul 1970)
Parent*Jimmie Leona Raines (27 Jul 1886 - 14 Jul 1970)
Perry Melton Culpepper|b. 31 Dec 1917\nd. 9 Sep 1996|p3586.htm|Samuel Jackson Culpepper|b. 9 Jul 1884\nd. 3 Jul 1970|p3577.htm|Jimmie Leona Raines|b. 27 Jul 1886\nd. 14 Jul 1970|p3582.htm|Thomas A. Culpepper|b. 12 Jul 1859\nd. 27 Apr 1907|p3557.htm|Frances V. Perry|b. 17 Jan 1865\nd. 14 Feb 1905|p3558.htm|Richard M. Raines|b. say 1856|p5473.htm|Henrietta C. Jones|b. say 1858|p5474.htm|

Birth*31 Dec 1917 Perry was born at Crisp Co., Georgia, on 31 Dec 1917.1 
 He was the son of Samuel Jackson Culpepper and Jimmie Leona Raines. 
1930 Census1 Apr 1930 Jasper, Samuel, Perry and Leon was listed as a son in Samuel Jackson Culpepper's household on the 1930 Census at Crisp Co., Georgia.2 
World War II*between 1942 and 1945 Perry served in US Navy on the USS Monterey, a small Aircraft Carrier in the Fast Task Force in the US Pacific Fleet; duties included logging flights on and off Carrier; Rank was Lieutenant; engaged in several major battles, including the Battle of Leyte Gulf. His ship was attacked on numerous occasions by Japanese "Kamakaze" aircraft, but not actually hit--many "near misses."
     Culpepper was stationed in Jacksonville, Fla. at Mayport before leaving for sea duty from California. Interesting story: The Monterey was commanded by a Capt. Ingersoll, a tall slender man. A large Cruiser, the Canberra, arrived commanded by a former classmate of Ingersoll's, and pulled alongside the Monterey. A message was sent over to Capt. Ingersoll from his old classmate commanding the Cruiser. Capt. Ingersoll handed the message to Perry and said, "Read that Culpepper." Culpepper said, "Yes sir, it says: 'You can relax now, Slim, I'm here.'" Shortly thereafter, the Japenese attacked and missed the Monterey but struck the Canberra, seriously damaging the ship. The only serious damage the Monterey received while Culpepper was on board resulted from getting caught in a "Typhoon" (hurricane) in which the ship was tossed about and caught on fire, requiring major repairs and re-supplies.
     Former US President Gerald R. Ford, was on the USS Monterey part of the time Culpepper was aboard. The two men discussed the matter in the early 1990's by telephone, but neither remembered the other from the days on the Monterey. The telephone conversation between Culpepper and the former President was arranged by Culpepper's son, P. Melton Culpepper, Jr., during a reception in honor of Culpepper in which he was presented a scale model of the USS Monterey.....3 
Death*9 Sep 1996 He died at Cordele, Crisp Co., Georgia, on 9 Sep 1996.4,1 

Family

Virginia Claire Fletcher (living)
Children

Charts Descendants of David John Culpepper of Dooly Co., GA
Last Edited 8 Jul 2004

Citations

  1. U.S. Social Security Administration, compiler, Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Online database at Ancestry.com.
    http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/vital/ssdi/main.htm
    P. M. Culpepper, 31 Dec 1917 - 9 Sep 1996, Cordele, Crisp Co., GA, SSN 253-10-9048 issued in Georgia before 1951
    (Why it is safe to publish Social Security numbers for deceased people: http://gen.culpepper.com/about/socialsecurity.htm).
  2. 1930 Federal Census, United States.
    ED 12, page 12B, Militia District 1451, Crisp Co., GA
    Home=$8000, Radio=N, Farm=Y
    Sam J. Culpepper, Head, M, 45, M, md @ 24, GA/GA/GA, Farmer
    Leona Culpepper, Wife, F, 43, M, md @ 22, GA/GA/GA
    Kenneth Culpepper, Son, M, 18, S, GA/GA/GA, Clerk in HW Store
    Edith Culpepper, Dau, F, 16, S, GA/GA/GA
    Olin Culpepper, Son, M, 13, S, GA/GA/GA
    Perry M. Culpepper, Son, M, 12, S, GA/GA/GA
    Leon Culpepper, Son, M, 8, S, GA/GA/GA
    Gladine Culpepper, Dau, F, 6, S, GA/GA/GA.
  3. E-mail from Perry Melton Culpepper Jr., e-mail address to Lew Griffin & Warren Culpepper, 2001, 2004.
  4. Georgia Health Department / Office of Vital Records, compiler, Georgia Deaths, 1919-1998, Online database at Ancestry.com, 1998.
    http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/inddbs/5426a.htm
    Perry M. Culpepper, d. 9 Sep 1996 at 78 years in Sumter Co., GA; Res. in Brantley Co., GA, 040424.