THE WALL OF FACES

Graduation at West Point - 1963

Those who knew George knew a man with a zest for life. He wanted to experience it all and have a blast while doing it. As a Cadet, he was always busy trying something new. He had a ready smile for everyone even when things were going bad for him, and being academically challenged, he encountered obstacles constantly. But he surmounted them each time and to the amazement of everyone, graduated with all of us. We admired him for his ability to find time for so many extra-curricular activities like skiing, rugby and choir practice, chastised and helped him when his grades suffered and finally congratulated him each time he triumphed over his Professors, year in and year out. We knew that a soldier's life was his destiny and we expected him to face all challenges with the same resolve and success throughout his career. After Graduation Day, our paths never crossed because I returned to the Philippine Army. I was assigned to Vietnam a few months after his death and I learned what had happened to him only many, many years later. I was saddened to lose a classmate and friend, but America lost a great officer and a true hero.

CAPTAIN GEORGE EVERETT PERRY III WAS A DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY AT WEST POINT IN THE CLASS OF 1963 WHO PREVIOUSLY HAD SERVED FROM 1964-1965 WITH THE 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION - 'THE SCREAMING EAGLES' - AND WAS ATTACHED TO USARV ON THE DATE OF HIS UNTIMELY DEATH ON 6-17-1966. HE WAS THE RECIPIENT OF THE FOLLOWING DECORATIONS - THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL, THE AIR MEDAL, THE ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL WITH V DEVICE AND THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL. IN ADDITION HE WAS ENTITLED TO WEAR ABOVE HIS MILITARY RIBBONS THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE. < DUTY-HONOR-COUNTRY>