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Harold Oliver Perry |
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Engagements: • Korean War (1950 - 1953) |
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Biography: | ||||
Harold Oliver Perry In September 1950, then-Private Harold Oliver Perry was serving with Company G, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, in Korea. On 23 September, PVT Perry's unit was engaged with enemy forces near Haman, Korea. Company G had launched an attack against heavily fortified positions near Haman and, while advancing on the objective, received heavy small-arms and machine-gun fire that pinned the company down and stalled the advance. PVT Perry continued to advance alone in the face of the intense enemy fire. Reaching the enemy positions, he crawled from foxhole to foxhole, killing the enemy in each with grenades and rifle fire. After killing seven enemy soldiers, he was hit by enemy fire and mortally wounded. His extraordinary heroism saved numerous lives and so inspired the men of Company G that they moved forward and swiftly achieved its mission. PVT Perry's courageous actions earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross. Perry received a posthumous promotion to the rank of Private First Class. Medals, Awards and Badges Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Cross Citation The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private Harold Perry (ASN: RA-13343537), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company G, 2d Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Private Perry distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Haman, Korea, on 23 September 1950. On that date, Company G had launched an attack against heavily fortified positions near Haman and, while advancing on the objective, received withering small-arms and machine-gun fire which pinned the company down and stalled the advance. Private Perry, with complete disregard for his personal safety, continued to advance alone in the face of the intense enemy fire. Reaching the enemy positions, he crawled from foxhole to foxhole, killing the enemy in each with grenades and rifle fire. After killing seven enemy soldiers, he was hit by enemy fire and mortally wounded. His heroic action resulted in the saving of numerous lives and so inspired his comrades that they moved forward aggressively, and swiftly accomplished the unit's mission. General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 159 (March 21, 1951) Burial Private First Class Harold Oliver Perry is buried at the Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly, Burlington County, NJ, in Section K, Site 943. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=21532000 |
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Honoree ID: 300545 | Created by: MHOH |