Branford Marine Visits Murphy School on Leave

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal William Pepe, 22, donned his finest attire last week when he visited elementary school as his sisters’ show-and-tell. The pre-school students were amazed by his shiny medals and one first grader wanted to know how he runs in “those shiny shoes?”

Pepe, a Notre Dame West Haven graduate, is a Branford native. Pepe enlisted in the Marine Corps in June 2008 and has done one tour in Afghanistan from July 2010 to February 2011. He will be deployed again this winter to serve one more tour before being released from active duty in March 2013.

First visiting his youngest sister Christina Pepe’s pre-school class taught by Holly Mulcahey, Pepe was greeted by wide-eye stares and excitement.

After doing the “Pledge of Allegiance” together, Mulcahey pulled out a map to help show the students how far away Pepe traveled to serve the country. In the whole time you would be awake in one day, said Mulcahey, Pepe would be sitting on plane destined for Afghanistan. They shook their heads that they understood.

Pepe told the students that there are no tvs and toys for him when he’s stationed in Afganistan and one of the biggest challenges he faced, was not having a shower for six months. He told the students, in order to prepare for tough conditions, he practiced sleeping in ditches and in trees before being deployed.

“I think they asked good questions,” Pepe said of the students. “I hope they will grow up with the understanding that people actually do go over there and risk their lives.”

After visiting with the pre-school class, Pepe headed off to speak to sister Rachel Pepe’s first grade class led by Lori Werth. The students were eager for Pepe to begin talking and their hands shot up like bolts when it was time for the question and answer portion of the meeting.

With fresh in their minds, students shared their own stories of relatives who served in wars and Pepe listened intently. One student asked about the metal insignia affixed to his clothing and cap and he patiently described every detail. When asked how he ran in “those shiny shoes,” Pepe explained that his shoes and uniform were formal and he had camouflage fatigues to wear when it was time for running.

Pepe will have about two weeks home with his family, including the Thanksgiving holiday, that he and his family are looking forward too. Like his father, William Pepe, Sr., Bill hopes to become a paid firefighter and has hopes to pursue a career in the field when he comes home.