Seaman (E3) Perkins was a crew member of the amphibious cargo ship USS Alshain (AKA-55). He fell into the ship's cargo hold and was evacuated to the hospital ship USS Consolation (AH-15) near Inchon, South Korea, where he died on 18 September 1950.

Perkins was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.