DOB/DOD: March 29, 1925 (Braintree, MA) – December 27, 1998 (Norwalk, CT); 73 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married Dorothy Pepe (1926-1999) on January 26, 1946, in Norwalk, CT
CHILDREN: Four sons, Richard W. Jr. (1948-), Donald W. (1954-), David A. (1956-), and Kenneth (1962-2023).
LOCAL ADDRESS: 24 Spring Street and 15 Plymouth Avenue, Norwalk
ENLISTMENT: June 17, 1943
SERVICE NUMBER: 31335595
UNIT: 45th Infantry Division
FAMILY: Born to William J. Sr. (1903-1969) and Ora McEwen Perry (1901-1973). One sister, Thelma E. Perry Slauson (1928-). Four brothers, Clifford J. (1930-1968), Wilbert B. (1935-2019), William J. Jr. (1938-2015), and James F. (1940-2018).
CIRCUMSTANCES: Held in Nazi POW camp Stalag 2B Hammerstein (99 work camps in the vicinity of Koslin & Stolp) West Prussia 53-17.
From The Norwalk Hour October 30, 1944
Mr. and Mrs. William Perry of Hamilton Avenue have been notified by the War Department that their 19-year-old son, Private First Class Richard William Perry, has been missing in action somewhere in France since October 6. Infantryman Perry entered the Army on June 17, 1943, and had his five months of basic training g at Camp Croft, South Carolina. Before being shipped to North Africa, Private First Class Perry had a 10-day furlough a year ago this week. He was made Private First Class on his birthday, March 29, 1943. He was with the first wave on the Anzio Beachhead with the famous “Thunderbird” 45th Infantry Division, was in the taking of Rome, and was at Laverne with the first wave that took part in the invasion of Southern France. Private First Class Perry was awarded several marksmanship medals and the Expert Infantryman’s Badge with 12 Oak Leaf Clusters for exemplary conduct in the line of battle.
From The Norwalk Hour February 3, 1945
Private First Class Richard W. Perry, who was reported as missing in action in the European Theatre of War in October, is a prisoner of war in Germany, according to a Christmas greeting card from him received this week by his elated parents, Mr. and Mrs. William J. Perry of 6 Hamilton Avenue. Private First Class Perry, who was an infantryman, went into the service on June 17, 1943, and has been overseas since the latter part of that year. He was with the first wave on the Anzio Beachhead with the famous Thunderbird, 45th Infantry Division. He also took part in the invasion of southern France.
From The Norwalk Hour December 29, 1998
Richard Perry, 73, of Norwalk, died Sunday in Norwalk Hospital. He was the husband of Dorothy Pepe Perry. Born March 29, 1925, in South Braintree, Massachusetts, Mr. Perry was the son of the late William and Ora McEwen Perry and was a Norwalk resident for many years. Until his retirement, Mr. Perry was a weigh master for Devine Brothers, Inc. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He had been a prisoner of war in Germany. Besides his wife, Mr. Perry is survived by four sons, Richard P. Perry of Danbury, Donald W. Perry of Stamford, David A. Perry of Melbourne, Florida, and Kenneth A. Perry of Norwalk; three brothers, Wilbert Perry and James Perry of North Carolina, and William Perry of Munson, Massachusetts; a sister, Thelma Slauson of Stratford; seven grandchildren, a great-grandson, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Clifford Perry. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the Magner Funeral Home, 12 Mott Ave., Norwalk, with the Rev. Nicholas Lang, rector of St. Paul’s on the Green, officiating. Interment will follow in Riverside Cemetery. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday in the funeral home.
Buried in Riverside Cemetery, 81 Riverside Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut; Section 26, Plot 498
END
Honor Norwalk CT veterans 