David Perry awarded Bronze Star
Gunnery Sergeant David W. Perry of the U.S. Marine Corps, 37-year-old son of Steve and Paula Perry of Hillsboro, was awarded the Bronze Star Sept. 27 for serving as operations chief for the Multinational Security Transition Command in Iraq from March to August 2004.
Perry, who lives in Cherry Point, N.C., with his wife Cindy and their children, Amanda, Jennifer, and Brandon, is now on his third tour of duty in Iraq and also served in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm. Perry was deployed to Iraq Sept. 28 and this tour will last until January or March 2005.
He is a graduate of Owasso High School in Owasso, Okla., and is approaching 20 years of military service in the U.S. Marine Corps.
David Perry isn't the only member of his family to serve his country. His grandfather spent 13 years in the Navy, part of that during World War II. Dan and his brother Mike were paratroopers in the U.S. Army during Vietnam, and his dad has an uncle who served in the Army in Korea.
David won his Bronze Star for a special assignment for which he volunteered.
According to Perry's Bronze Star document, he "displayed outstanding professionalism and exceptional initiative as operations chief and expertly coordinated quick response force, medical, and emergency services during hostile and dangerous combat operations.
"His courageous acts include being the first to the point of impact, providing aid to wounded personnel, assisting in riot control and vectoring emergency and medical care. Perry's meritorius performance and loyal devotion to duty reflect great credit upon himself, the U.S. Marine Corps, and the department of defense."
In an article by Lance Cpl. Adam Testagrossa in Windsock, David's decision to return to Iraq for the third time was an easy one for him.
"The decision was easy; my Marines are out there and I want to be with them," said David. "The real honor comes from fellow Marines serving in Iraq who are there watching your back."
David also said receiving the Bronze Star was a surprising and humbling experience.
"Paula and I worry about David, but he wants to do this. It is his job," said Dan Perry. "He knows he is in danger."
Although the Perrys worry about David, they have faith that he will be as safe as he can be.
"He's been trained well," Dan said. "We support him 100 percent."
Having served in Vietnam Dan Perry has his own perspective on the war in Iraq. Although Dan and Paula want their son and the other soldiers out of Iraq, they also want the U.S. to finish what it started.
"We've lost too many soldiers to quit," said Dan. "One soldier is too many. Now we need to take care of business, turn the country back to the Iraqis, and bring our soldiers home."
The Perrys hope to see their son when he returns to the States after the first of the year.
The Perry's other son, C.J., is a 1996 graduate of Hillsboro High School who now lives in Fullerton, Calif.
