Ernesto Perez 1948-1967

PEREZ

Posted By: Sharyl Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 3/8/2011 at 01:16:24

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Perez, rural Rake, received word that their son, Marine Pfc. Ernesto Perez, was killed in action in Vietnam on Friday.

Notification of his death was brought to the family late Saturday afternoon by Marine officers from Mason City. On Sunday morning an official telegram was telephoned to Rake for delivery to the Perez family.

According to Marine Corps authorities, Pfc. Ernesto Perez died Friday, Dec. 15, from enemy small arms fire while on patrol duty near Quang Tri. He is the first Winnebago serviceman to give his life in the Vietnam war.

Perez entered the service on April 29, 1967 and had been in Vietnam since early November. Funeral arrangements are pending, awaiting further word from the miliary authorities.

Perez, born April 6, 1948 at Lockhart, Texas, came to this area about 15 years ago with his parents. He is survived by his parents; three brothers, Paul, Jr., of St. Paul; Robert and Danny; and two sisters, Rita and Irma, all of Rake.

The family first came to this county 15 years ago, as migrant workers, Ernesto attended school in Thompson and Lakota before they moved to the Rake area. When a sophomore in Rake High School, he left his studies to work until he was old enough to enlist in the Marines.

His parents were also born in Texas; his mother at Lockhart and his father, Paul Sr., at Buda. The latter is a veteran of World War II having served in the then United States Air Corps. He is a member of the Golden Star American Legion Post at Rake.

~Rake Register, December 21, 1967
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Funeral services for Pfc. Ernesto Perez, who was killed in action in Vietnam on Friday, December 15, will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church at Buffalo Center. Father E.W. Lechtenberg will officiate.

The young Marine's body arrived by plane in Minneapolis at 11 o'clock Wednesday evening. Winter Funeral Service met the plane to bring the body to Buffalo Center. Burial will be at the West Cemetery at Rake. The Rake Legion Post will be in charge of military rites.

~Rake Register, December 28, 1967
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Additional info. & photo of Pfc Perez can be found on the Winnebago co. IAGenWeb site. Click on Military Records.

Winnebago co. IAGenWeb
 

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