March 29, 1925 (Braintree, MA) – December 27, 1998 (Norwalk, CT); 73 years old
Married to Dorothy Pepe January 26, 1946 in Norwalk, CT
Local address: 24 Spring Street, South Norwalk and 15 Plymouth Avenue, Norwalk
Enlisted June 17, 1943
Serial number 31335595
45TH INFANTRY DIVISION
Held in Nazi POW camp Stalag 2B Hammerstein (99 work camps in 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 June 17, 1943 an had his five months basic training g at Camp Croft, South Carolina. Before being shipped to North Africa, Private First Class Perry had a 10-day furlough, 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, 1493, 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.
Buried in Riverside Cemetery, Riverside Avenue, Norwalk CT; Section 26, Plot 498
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