Sergeant Damon C. Eppinette, currently of Eagle Bridge, New York, passed away unexpectedly at home on May 25th, 2014. Sgt. Eppinette served in the United States Marine Corps from August of 1996 to October of 2006. He served as a 2141 AAV Mechanic in the 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion. His accomplishments include: three Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals (Combat V), Combat Action Ribbon (Iraq), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (Iraq), Iraq Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Iraq), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon, and Presidential Unit Citation-Navy,and three Sea Service Deployment Ribbons. Sgt. Eppinette was born in 1978 on the 15thof April at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia.
Damon will be remembered as an extremely dedicated and courageous Marine. He served two tours in Iraq. Damon was first deployed to Iraq on January 11th, 2003 as Platoon Maintenance Chief, AAV. His second deployment to Iraq came in January of 2004. Upon discharge from the Marine Corps, Damon worked as a mechanic for Norfolk Southern Railway and Walmart Service Center. He lived for his brothers in the Marine Corps and was a loyal and loving son and brother. His greatest joys in life were his two wonderful dogs Belle and Puppy, whom he rescued. He was an avid gun collector and sharpshooter, and an always-willing playmate to his many nieces. Damon loved to be outdoors, spending countless hours walking his dogs, riding his four wheeler, and planting his peppers in the garden. Damon struggled for many years with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from his combat tours. Even in his final days, he searched for a connection to someone who could understand the things he had been through. He reached out to many of his fellow comrades, many of whom are fighting their own battle with PTSD.
Damon is survived by: his parents Judy and Jeff Brownell of Eagle Bridge, NY, as well as Jimmy and Rhonda Eppinette of Columbia, TN; his sister SileataEppinette(Thommy Booth) of Greenwich, NY; his brothers Chris Eppinette (Dawn) of Asheville, NC;Brian Meadows (Halley) of Fairfax, VA; Kevin Meadows (Amanda) of Argyle, NY; and his five nieces Ivy, Natalie, Kiara, Peyton, and Norah, as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Services will be held atMahar Funeral Home in Hoosick Falls, NY. Calling hours are from 5-8pm Thursday, May 29th. For all who wish attend, funeral services will take place Friday, May 30th at 10am at the funeral home. A procession and military burial will follow at Saratoga National Cemetery, as well as a reception at The First Baptist Church in Hoosick Falls, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations in Damon’s name may be made to www.helporphanpuppies.org or www.woundedwarriorproject.org