Career

After flight training at Pensacola, Florida, he was commissioned Ensign 1 December 1938. Kephart served with air groups in Saratoga (CV-3) and Wasp (CV-7), and in May 1940 returned to Pensacola as a flight instructor. Six months later he rejoined Scouting Squadron 71 (VS-71) on board Wasp.

Promoted to Lieutenant (jg) 15 June 1942 and Lieutenant (temporary) 1 October, Lieutenant

Kephart was killed in action 14 October while engaging the enemy over Guadalcanal. In 1943, the destroyer escort United States Ship Kephart (Delaware-207) was named in Lieutenant

Kephart"s honor, sponsored by his mother.