PERRY, ELMER JOSEPH, JR.  

Casualty Record

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Veteran Hagiography

ELMER JOSEPH PERRY, JR.,  SERGEANT, USMC, ODESSA, ECTOR COUNTY, TEXAS

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Bronze Star with "V" device, Purple Heart,  Marine Corp Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal

BIOGRAPHY

Elmer Perry lived in Odessa and attended Odessa Schools prior to going into the Marine Corp.  He enlisted in the Marine Corp in 1961 at age 17, trained in infantry and was making the Marine Corp his career.  He re-enlisted in 1965.  He was married. 

Marine Corp ID Picture-1961

He began his tour in Vietnam on January 11, 1968 and was assigned as a squad leader with D Company, 1^st Battalion, 9^th Marines.   In late April 1968, it became apparent that the North Vietnamese Army was again moving across the DMZ into the area north of Dong Ha.   On April 29, 1968, the ARVN 2^nd Infantry Regiment sent its 1^st and 4^th Battalions in a pincer movement to locate and engage the NVA elements around An Binh.  “Task Force Robbie”, consisting of Delta 1/9 Marines reinforced with tanks from Alpha 3^rd Tanks, was sent to relieve the building pressure on the ARVN’s southern flank.

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“Robbie” ran into trouble at Cam Vu, about 5,000 meters west of An Binh, where a North Vietnamese blocking force was waiting for them.  After taking 10 dead and 22 wounded in a six hour fight against a clearly superior force, “Robbie” broke off contact and withdrew.  The ARVN forces had absorbed 17 dead and 47 wounded, could not link up and also withdrew. 

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At this point, the 3^rd Battalion, 9^th Marines, was brought into the fight, advancing toward Cam Vu.  India 3/9 was the first to make contact, encountering a “L” shaped ambush just north of Cam Vu.  As 3/9’s other three companies deployed in support of India, the NVA broke contact and withdrew under cover of artillery fire from within and north of the DMZ. 

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The fighting around Cam Vu was parallel by the engagements of the 2^nd Battalion, 4^th Marines who were in contact with elements of the 325tgh NVA Division at Dai Do, some 4 miles north of Cam Vu.  These engagements-the 2^nd ARVN Infantry, 1/9, and 3/9 at Cam Vu and 2/4 at Dai Do – were the opening engagements in what became known as the Battle of Dong Ha.

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While the Cam Vu fights cost the North Vietnamese at least 197 dead, Allied losses also were high:

·         1^ST Bn, 9^th Marines – 10 dead

·         3^rd Bn, 9^th Marines – 36 dead

·         1^st and 4^th Bns, 2^nd ARVN Infantry – 17 dead

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Sergeant Perry was with “Task Force Robbie” and was among the 10 men killed in the opening engagement at Cam Vu.  He was killed from multiple fragments wounds from a Rocket Propelled Grenade.  He was buried with full military honors in the Good Shepard Cemetery in Huntington Beatch, California.  He was survived by his wife, Mattie and his two sons, the oldest Allan at age 2 and the youngest who was born May 2, 1968 three days after Sgt Perry was killed.

Sergeant Perry was presented a posthumous Bronze Star with "V" device for the action that cost him his life. 

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COMMANDER IN CHIEF
UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Bronze Star Meal posthumously to

Sergeant Elmer J. PERRY, Jr.
United States Marine Corps

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

"For heroic achievement in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam while serving as a Platoon Guide with Company D, First Battalion, Ninth Marines, Third Marine Division. On 29 April 1968, Company D was moving through an area near Cam Lo when the unit came under intense small arms fire from a North Vietnamese Army force, pinning down Sergeant's Perry's platoon and inflicting numerous casualties. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, he unhesitatingly exposed himself to hostile fire in order to move to an advantageous position from which to deliver M-79 grenade launcher fire against the enemy. Completely disregarding his own safety, he provided accurate covering fire which accounted for three North Vietnamese confirmed killed and facilitated the evacuation of several Marine casualties. While subsequently maneuvering to another firing position, he was mortally wounded by the hostile fire. Sergeant PERRY'S bold initiative, dauntless courage and selfless devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Services."

The Combat "V" is authorized.

For the President

//s//
John J. Hyland
Admiral, U.S. Navy
Commander in Chief U.S. Pacific Fleet


Transcribed from a copy of the citation by
Billy M. Brown
September 15, 2007

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Good Shepard Cemetery, Hunington Beach, Calfornia

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VIRTUAL WALL

 

 

 

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