World War II Honoree

Johnnie M. Perez

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

San Antonio, Texas

Honored By

Rosalinda Bagg

Relationship

Daughter

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS; RIFLEMAN. LANDED WITH THE 359TH INFANTRY, 90TH DIVISION AT UTAH BEACH ON D-DAY. WOUNDED ON JUNE 10TH, AND AFTER RECUPERATION, SERVED AS FIRST SCOUT WITH COMPANY E, 119TH INFANTRY, 30TH DIVISION. SERVED AHEAD OF COMPANY ON ALL ADVANCES, WARNING COMPANY OF SNIPERS AND AMBUSHES, AND REPORTING THE ENEMY STRENGTH, POSITION AND AMMUNITION. PREPARED CONSIDERABLE MAPS AND REPORTED POSSIBLE MILITARY ROUTES FOR BRINGING UP TROOPS. SERVED IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, BELGIUM, HOLLAND, AND GERMANY. RECEIVED WWII VICTORY MEDAL, PURPLE HEART WITH ONE OAK LEAF CLUSTER, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATRE RIBBON WITH 2 BATTLE STARS FOR NORMANDY AND RHINELAND, BRONZE STAR, AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL. THE BRONZE STAR CITATION STATED THAT HE RECEIVED IT FOR HEROIC ACHIEVEMENT IN ACTION ON OCTOBER 5, 1944, IN GERMANY. HE WAS ONE OF FOUR SCOUTS WHO LED AN INFANTRY ATTACK DURING AN ASSAULT UPON THE SIEGFRIED LINE. HIS MISSION WAS TO DISCOVER HIDDEN PILLBOXES AND OTHER HOSTILE GUN POSITIONS AND DIRECT TANK DESTROYER FIRE AT THE ENEMY. AFTER DIRECTING COVERING FIRE ON THE FIRST PILLBOX SO DISCOVERED, HE WALKED COURAGEOUSLY TO WITHIN TWENTY YARDS OF THE POSITION FROM WHICH HE AND HIS COMPANIONS ATTACKED THE PILLBOX WITH GRENADES, CAUSING TWENTY-FIVE ENEMY SOLDIERS, INCLUDING FIVE WOUNDED IN ACTION, TO SURRENDER. THE CAPTURE OF THIS PILLBOX ALLOWED THE COMPANY TO CONTINUE THE ATTACK WITHOUT DEPLOYING AND SET THE PACE FOR THE CAPTURE OF TEN MORE BOXES DURING THE DAY.