Emily J.T. Perez, In Remembrance
| Every American Soldier who dies fighting for our country is heartbreaking. Emily J.T. Perez is one of those heartbreaking moments. "Emily J.T. Perez, a platoon leader, was killed while patrolling southern Iraq near Najaf on Sept. 12 when a roadside bomb exploded under her Humvee."  2nd Lt. Emily J.T. Perez 1983: Born in Heidelberg, Germany. Father and grandfather both served in the U.S. Army. 1998: Moved with family to Fort Washington. While a high school student, pushed for an HIV-AIDS ministry at Peace Baptist Church in the District and was honored as an AIDS educator by the American Red Cross. 2001: Graduated from Oxon Hill High School. Enrolled in the U.S. Military Academy at West Point Ran track and sang in the gospel choir. Was the first minority female command sergeant in West Point history. 2005: Graduated from West Point in the top 10 percent of her class. Was assigned to the 204th Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. Deployed to Iraq in December as a Medical Service Corps officer. Sept. 12, 2006: Killed in Kifl by an improvised explosive device, the first female West Point graduate to die in Iraq. R.I.P. Emily |
posted by s-one at 5:48 AM |
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Comments on "Emily J.T. Perez, In Remembrance"
2nd Lieutenant Emily J. T. Perez (In Memorial)
Saddened when in the local paper of parents Daniel & Vicki I read,
About the death of their 23-year old daughter 2nd Lt. Emily J.T. Perez,
Father and grandfather proudly served their country I remember that,
She proved a very tough act to follow, this spunky little Army brat.
At that time she was small in stature but big in heart,
No matter the role, Emily more than played her part,
Armed with the nickname of Kobe for always being sure,
Or whatever the task was her shots were straight and pure.
Active with Peace Baptist Church residing at Fort Washington,
A family member afflicted with HIV and her crusade had begun,
In Prince George County she helped others start a HIV-AIDS Ministry,
Superwoman was determined to help combat this deadly disease.
Assistant Principal N. Laney said, “this wasn’t some average Joe”,
As her high school track coach, Nathaniel certainly should know,
Alexandria’s Red Cross called her focused while always ready to go,
The peer education program said she was never late & very dependable.
An Oxon Hill High School wing commander in the Junior ROTC,
Serving her country with the Army in any capacity is what she longed to be,
At West Point, choir, track, first minority command, cream of the crop,
Intelligent as Emily was she still couldn’t spell the words quit or stop.
As the platoon leader Perez was patrolling Iraq in a military Humvee,
A bomb exploded under her truck from cowardly insurgents called an IED,
A sweetheart decked out in battle fatigues that only aimed to please,
God called you home to Heaven in the name of Jesus, our loving Emily.
© 2006 by Luke Easter
www.LyricsByLucas.com