Dale L. Eppinger, Colonel, USAF (Retired)
October 01, 1932 – March 25, 2025

Colonel Dale L. Eppinger (92) passed away on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. He was born to Carl and Minnie Eppinger of New Bedford, Pennsylvania, on October 1, 1932.

He attended a four-room school for his elementary education and in 1950 graduated from Union High School, New Castle, Pennsylvania. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Forestry at Penn State where he belonged to the Alpha Zeta Fraternity. On June 11, 1955, during the graduation ceremony at Beaver Field Penn State Campus, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

On October 1, 1955, Dale and Sara McAlpine were joined in marriage in the United Presbyterian Church, West Newton, Pennsylvania. In December of 1955 he received orders to report to Lackland Air Force Base. This was the start of a very interesting 30-year career in the United States Air Force. Dale completed his pilot training in 1957 and was assigned a one-year tour at Eniwetok Atoll in the Pacific flying helicopter support for 22 nuclear detonations. Col. Eppinger completed his military career with over 2,000 hours in fixed wing aircraft and over 3,000 hours in helicopters while earning his command pilot wings. During his military career he received two below the zone promotions.

He was awarded the Air Force Cross (second only to the Medal of Honor) for his combat actions while on the ground after his helicopter was shot down in Cambodia on April 21, 1969, while rescuing a team of Green Berets during the Vietnam War. Other significant awards include two Distinguished Flying Crosses, 11 Air Medals, Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit and eight additional service and performance medals. His career included a tour at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota, as Base Commander; Air War College where he concurrently earned a Master’s in Education; Strategic Air Command Headquarters; Titan Missile Wing command post; Combat Evaluation Group; National Security Agency; and AFROTC Commander at the University of Maryland.

He was a lifetime member of the Legion of Valor, Military Order of World Wars, Daedalians, USAF Helicopter Pilot Association and the Green Hornets. He retired from the Air Force in 1986 and accepted a position as Director of Graduate Housing at the University of Maryland. He and Sara retired to Victoria, Texas in 1993, moved to Round Rock, Texas in 2010 and recently to Georgetown, Texas. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Round Rock, Texas.

He is preceded in death by his parents and son, Bryan David Eppinger. He will be missed by Sara, his loving wife of 69 years; and children, Bruce (Kirsten), Victoria and Lago Vista; Sue Stuart (Michael Benjamin), Round Rock; Eric (Carolyn), Round Rock; and Michael (Laurel), Georgetown, Texas. Grandchildren include Jocelyn (Byron) Whisnant, Weir, Texas; Brenna (Kyle) Bachus, Austin, Texas; Evan (Milly) Eppinger, Round Rock; Trent (Minako) Jones, Australia; and Prue (Geoff) Smith, Australia and fifteen great-grandchildren; sister, Donna McQuiston of Naples, Florida; brother, Vern (Wanetta) Eppinger of New Bedford, Pennsylvania; sister, Sandra (Wayne) King of Lowellville, Ohio, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 pm, Saturday, April 5, 2025, First United Methodist Church, 1004 N. Mays Street, Round Rock. Interment with Full Military Honors will be held at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, at a later date.

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Dale Eppinger was commissioned through the Air Force ROTC program. He began his tour in Vietnam in July 1968 and was involved as Pilot of a Transport Helicopter in the November 26, 1968, mission during which Captain James Fleming earned the Medal of Honor and Major Leonard Gonzales and Sergeant Victor Adams earned Air Force Crosses. Five months later he also earned the Air Force Cross for a mission on April 21, 1969. He retired as a U.S. Air Force Colonel on January 31, 1986.

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Major Dale L. Eppinger served a tour in the Vietnam War as a UH-1P pilot with the 20th SOS “Green Hornets” in the 1968 – 1969 time frame and he was awarded The Air Force Cross among numerous other awards and decorations.

Link to Dale L. Eppinger’s awards page; https://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient/recipient-3600/