DOB/DOD: December 19, 1978 (Brooklyn, NY) – July 26, 2003; 24 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: Pine Hill Avenue; Norwalk
ENLISTMENT: April 10, 2002
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 11C10; Indirect Fire Infantryman
UNIT: Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 4th Infantry Division; Fort Hood, Texas
FAMILY: Born to Wilfredo Perez Sr. (1959-) and Ann M. Eccles Perez (-). Stepmother, Vicki Roos (1967-). Two sisters, Lisa M. (1975-) and Telia M. (1985-). One brother, Joseph (1988-). Two half-brothers, Roman and Michael.
DECORATIONS: Awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal (Expeditionary), Global War on Terrorism Medal (Service), Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Valorous Unit Award.
CIRCUMSTANCES: Wilfredo and two other soldiers died July 26, 2003, during a grenade attack as they were guarding a children’s hospital in Baqubah, Iraq. The other soldiers killed in the same incident are:
Army Sergeant Daniel Keith Methvin; Belton, Texas
Army Specialist Jonathan Paul Barnes; Anderson, Missouri
His family always called him “Junior,” and as a young boy, he was into everything and anything. Junior was selflessly devoted to his family. A kind-hearted young man, he helped take care of his great-aunt Dawn, who was wheelchair-bound, and regularly took his aunt Cathy, sick with cancer, to her doctor appointments. He also took his grandmother Herminia out shopping and to the casino. He was very close to and loved his sister, Lisa Marie, and would do anything for her. His last letter from Iraq arrived the day after the family learned that he’d lost his life in the line of duty on July 26, 2003. In that letter, written crouched in a Humvee, Junior, 24, told his stepbrother Joseph, 15, that he needed “to finish school” to be able to take care of himself and “be the man.” Junior loved New York City and called Queens his home. He lived half his life there and half in Connecticut, where he moved to live with his father and attend Nathan Hale Middle School and Norwalk High School. He loved clothes and shopping, not only buying complete outfits for himself but also buying things for others. He loved playing handball. He loved Six Flags and Action Park. As he got older, he loved downhill skiing, playing golf, riding his motorcycle, and working on his car. Junior was always involved. At 13, he marched with the Sea Cadets in the Desert Storm ticker-tape parade in New York City. At 16, he volunteered at the Special Olympics World Games in New Haven, Connecticut. He also walked in fundraisers for the American Diabetes Society and the Multiple Sclerosis Society. At 17, he was a member of Junior ROTC at Norwalk High. After September 11, 2001, at age 23, he enlisted. He was proud to wear the uniform of the U.S. Army and serve his country. The day before he shipped out to Fort Hood, Texas, he rode in the 2002 Connecticut United Ride to raise money for Fairfield County police and firefighters. Junior joined the army in April 2002 and headed to Fort Benning, Georgia, for basic training, after which he was transferred to Fort Hood, Texas, for more training. He left for the Middle East in the winter of 2002, eventually being stationed in Iraq. Junior is survived by his father, Wilfredo Perez Sr., stepmother Vicki Roos, and stepbrother Roman, all of Norwalk; and his mother, Ann Marie Eccles, sister Lisa Marie, stepsister Teila, and stepbrother Joseph, all of Queens. Wilfredo Perez Jr. was a leader. Strong, physically and mentally, handsome, and charismatic, he had a beautiful smile and loved making people laugh. If you knew him only briefly, you would never forget him. A college scholarship fund has been established at Norwalk High School and Brien McMahon High School in Junior’s name and honor.
From FallenHeroesMemorial.com
“My name is Sergeant Armstrong. I am the only one of the soldiers hit by the grenade to live. I want everyone to know that in serving with Wilfredo, I found a friend who will stay in my heart forever. One of the best soldiers to have had the honor to serve with. You will be missed, and I will let everyone know who you are.”
— Sergeant Robert P. Armstrong of HHC 1-67AR, Ft. Hood, Texas
From the Boston Globe on August 3, 2003
Private First Class Wilfredo Perez Jr. of Norwalk, Connecticut, an Army infantryman stationed in Iraq, was among three soldiers killed July 26 in a grenade attack on a hospital they were guarding 45 miles northeast of Baghdad. He was 24. His career in the military began in the Junior ROTC program at Norwalk High School. After years of moving between Norwalk and Queens, Mr. Perez dropped out of high school. Three years later, he returned to earn his GED, said his sister, Lisa Marie, of Queens, New York. He returned to the Norwalk schools last year to talk to students about overcoming mistakes. “He lived in two different worlds at certain times,” she said. Mr. Perez grew up in Queens, where his mother still lives. After his parents divorced, he moved to Connecticut to live with his father. Mr. Perez was considered a prankster by most of his family and friends. He once littered his mother’s bath with chicken seasonings, which made her smell like chicken for three days. After joining the Army about 18 months ago, Mr. Perez worked with his father as a remodeling contractor before beginning his training at Fort Benning [Fort Moore as of 2023], Georgia, his uncle, Tom Noonan of Stratford, Connecticut, told the Associated Press. He spent time with his mother and father last August after he finished his training. Mr. Perez was assigned to Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, based in Fort Hood [Fort Cavazos as of 2003], Texas. At first, he was eager to go to Iraq and saw the experience as exciting, but he recently told his family he wanted out of Iraq, his sister said. “They were not prepared for what the heat did to them mentally; he wrote about not having water and needing to laugh,” she added. Keeping in touch with his family through e-mail and occasional phone calls, news from Mr. Perez – called “Junior” by his family – was shared at family gatherings. Recently, his sisters, brother, and cousin all received letters with instructions from him on what they should do if he were to die overseas. In addition to his sister, Mr. Perez leaves his father, Wilfredo Sr.; his mother, Ann Marie; another sister, Telia Marie of Queens; and two brothers, Joseph of Queens and Roman of Norwalk. A funeral Mass will be said in St. Matthias Roman Catholic Church in Queens at 11:30 a.m. Friday. Burial will be in Cypress Hills Cemetery in Brooklyn.
Citation to accompany the award of the Bronze Star Medal
TO
Specialist Wilfredo Perez Jr.
United States Army
FOR
Meritorious service from 19 March 2003 to 26 July 2003 while assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 67th Armored, 4th Infantry Division. Specialist Perez gave the ultimate sacrifice while participating in combat operations to liberate Iraq. His duty performance and commitment are in keeping with the highest the highest traditions of selfless service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 4th Infantry Division, Victory Corps, and the United States Army.
Given under my hand in the City of Washington this
28th day of July 2003
Gina S. Farrisee, The Adjutant General, and R.L. Brownlee, Secretary of the Army
Bridge at the 15.6-mile mark on Interstate 95 in Norwalk, Connecticut
Memorialized on the Global War on Terrorism Plaque, 55 Calf Pasture Beach Road, Norwalk, Connecticut.
Specialist Perez is buried at Cypress Hills Cemetery, 883 Jamaica Avenue, Brooklyn, New York; Section 16, Lot 117, Grave 24.
I left everyone I loved behind
And laid my life on the line
To free a country at hand
To bring peace to man, not
Knowing that on July 26, 2003
Would be the last day for me.
I am here because of
Terrorism, racism, hate. We
Have to find a way to bring
some love here today. To my
Family and friends, one love.
To the world, “Peace.”
There will be another dream
for me. Someone will dream it.