Jessie F. Perez
Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army

In July 1951, then-Sergeant Jessie F. Perez was serving with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, in Korea.

On 30 July, SGT Perez's unit was engaged with enemy forces in the vicinity of Taeu-san, Korea. Company L and Company K were engaged in an assault against a well-entrenched hostile force when they were suddenly pinned down by a heavy volume of enemy fire. SGT Perez left his position of cover and, followed closely by a comrade firing a machine-gun, charged up the hill. Ignoring the intense hostile fire concentrated on him, he assaulted two enemy machine-gun emplacements and killed the troops occupying them with pistol fire. He called for men from his squad to move forward to man the captured weapons and directed their fire against the hostile emplacements before resuming his assault. Inspired by his courageous actions, the friendly troops renewed their attack and moved forward to secure the objectives while inflicting numerous casualties on the enemy. SGT Perez's extraordinary heroism earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge

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 pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Sergeant Jessie F. Perez (ASN: RA-18307559), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company L, 3d Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Sergeant Perez distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Taeu-san, Korea, on 30 July 1951. On that date, Company L and Company K were engaged in an assault against a well-entrenched hostile force when they were suddenly pinned down by a heavy volume of enemy fire. Realizing that immediate and aggressive action was necessary, Sergeant Perez unhesitatingly left his position of cover and, followed closely by a comrade firing a machine-gun, charged up the hill. Disregarding the intense hostile fire being concentrated on him, he assaulted two enemy machine-gun emplacements, killing the troops occupying them with pistol fire. Then, calling for men from his squad to move forward to man the captured weapons, he directed their fire against the hostile emplacements and resumed his assault. His courageous actions so inspired the friendly troops that they renewed their attack and rushed forward to secure their objectives, inflicting numerous casualties on the enemy.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 904 (November 16, 1951)

Death and Burial

Sergeant First Class Jessie F. Perez died on 14 October 1998. He is buried at Houston National Cemetery in Houston, Harris County, TX, in Plot: M2, 0, 1168.

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