World War II Honoree

Calvin Ray Perkett

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Carlsbad, California

Honored By

Bobby L. Kelly

Relationship

Grandson

GUARDED THE SHIPYARDS IN NEW JERSEY. HE SPENT HIS LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS IN THE ARMY AT CAMP SHANKS, NEW YORK BEFORE BEING SHIPPED OVERSEAS. HE ALSO SPENT TIME AT CAMP EDWARDS, MASSACHUSETTS AND CAMP LIVINGSTON, LOUISIANA. WHEN HIS UNIT WAS SENT TO THE WAR IN AUGUST OF 1944, HE TOOK THE SS CHITRAL TO GREENOCK, SCOTLAND. FROM THERE HE WAS SENT TO POOLE, ENGLAND . IN NOVEMBER OF 1944, HE WAS DEPLOYED TO LE HAVRE, FRANCE WITH BATTERY A, 572ND ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY WEAPONS BATTALION SELF PROPELLED. HE WAS ATTACHED TO THE 12TH ARMORED DIVISION, 'THE MYSTERY DIVISION'. HIS JOB WAS TO PROTECT THE DIVISION’S FIELD ARTILLERY BATTERIES. BY JANUARY OF 1945, HE WAS IN COLMAR, FRANCE. IN APRIL OF 1945, HE HELPED TO LIBERATE THE BUCHENWALD CONCENTRATION CAMP. HE WAS IN 3 MAJOR BATTLES WHILE IN GERMANY AND FRANCE. BY MAY OF 1945, HE WAS IN GERMANY READY TO COME HOME TO THE U.S.