Sergeant Perry was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of Company C, 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. "Coot" was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy near Kunu-ri, North Korea on 27 November 1950. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

For his leadership and valor, Sergeant Perry was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.