- William T. Perkins, Jr.
Infobox Military Person
name= William Thomas Perkins, Jr.
born= Birth date|1947|8|10
died= Death date and age|1967|19|12|1947|8|10
placeofbirth=Rochester, New York
placeofdeath=Killed in action inVietnam
placeofburial=
caption= William T. Perkins, Jr., posthumous Medal of Honor recipient
nickname=
allegiance=flagicon|United States United States of America
branch=United States Marine Corps
serviceyears= 1966–1967
rank= Corporal
commands=
unit=1st Battalion 1st Marines
battles=Vietnam War
awards=Medal of Honor Purple Heart
laterwork=William Thomas Perkins, Jr. (
August 10 1947 –October 12 1967 ) was a United States Marine who was posthumously awarded theUnited States ' highest military decoration for valor — theMedal of Honor — for his heroic action onOctober 12 1967 during theVietnam War in which he smothered an exploding grenade with his body to save the lives of three fellow Marines. Perkins is the only combat photographer to have received the Medal of Honor. [cite web|url=http://www.medalofhonor.com/WilliamPerkins.htm|title= Vietnam War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient, Cpl. William Thomas Perkins Jr|publisher=MedalOfHonor.com|accessdate=2006-07-04]Biography
William T. Perkins, Jr. was born in
Rochester, New York . In elementary school he moved with his family to California and graduated from James Monroe High School, Sepulveda, California, in 1965.cite web
accessdate=2007-11-13
url = http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Perkins_WT.htm
title = Corporal William Thomas Perkins Jr., USMC, Medal of Honor recipient
work = Who's who in Marine Corps history
publisher = History Division, United States Marine Corps
date =July 03 ,2006 ]Perkins enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on
April 27 1966 and was discharged to enlist in the Regular Marine Corps onJuly 6 1966 .cite web
accessdate=2007-11-13
url = http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Perkins_WT.htm
title = Corporal William Thomas Perkins Jr., USMC, Medal of Honor recipient
work = Who's who in Marine Corps history
publisher = History Division, United States Marine Corps
date =July 03 ,2006 ]Upon completion of
recruit training with the 2nd Recruit Training Battalion,Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego , he was promoted toprivate first class onSeptember 22 1966 . Transferred to theMarine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton , he underwent individual combat training with the 3rd Battalion, 2ndInfantry Training Regiment.cite web
accessdate=2007-11-13
url = http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Perkins_WT.htm
title = Corporal William Thomas Perkins Jr., USMC, Medal of Honor recipient
work = Who's who in Marine Corps history
publisher = History Division, United States Marine Corps
date =July 03 ,2006 ]From October 1966 to January 1967, he served as a photographer with Headquarters Battalion, Marine Corps Supply Center,
Barstow, California . He was promoted to Lance Corporal onJanuary 1 1967 . For the next four months, LCpl Perkins was a student at the Motion Picture Photography, U.S. Army Signal Center and School,Fort Monmouth ,New Jersey . In May 1967, he was transferred back to Headquarters Battalion, Barstow.cite web
accessdate=2007-11-13
url = http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Perkins_WT.htm
title = Corporal William Thomas Perkins Jr., USMC, Medal of Honor recipient
work = Who's who in Marine Corps history
publisher = History Division, United States Marine Corps
date =July 03 ,2006 ]In July 1967, LCpl Perkins served as a photographer with Service Company, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division and was transferred to the Republic of Vietnam. He was promoted to Corporal on
August 1 1967 . While serving as a combat photographer with Company C,1st Battalion, 1st Marines , 1st Marine Division during Operation Medina, he waskilled in action onOctober 12 1967 .cite web
accessdate=2007-11-13
url = http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Perkins_WT.htm
title = Corporal William Thomas Perkins Jr., USMC, Medal of Honor recipient
work = Who's who in Marine Corps history
publisher = History Division, United States Marine Corps
date =July 03 ,2006 ]William T. Perkins, Jr. is buried in
San Fernando Mission Cemetery in San Fernando, California. [cite web
title=William Thomas Perkins, Jr.
url=http://www.homeofheroes.com/gravesites/states/pages_pz/perkins_william_ca.html
publisher=HomeOfHeroes.com
accessdate=2006-07-04] findagrave|7861264 Retrieved on2007-11-13 ]Awards and decorations
Cpl Perkins' was awarded the following medals:
*
*
*
Presidential Unit Citation (United States) *
National Defense Service Medal * (with one bronze star)
* (with Palm)
*
*Vietnamese Military Merit Medal
Medal of Honor citation
The
President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
CORPORAL WILLIAM T. PERKINS, JR. UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a combat photographer attached to Company C, First Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division, in the Republic of Vietnam on
/S/ RICHARD M. NIXON12 October 1967 . During Operation MEDINA, a major reconnaissance in force, southwest of Quang Tri, Company C made heavy combat contact with a numerically superiorNorth Vietnamese Army Force estimated at from two to three companies. The focal point of the intense fighting was ahelicopter landing zone which was also serving as the Command Post of Company C. In the course of a strong hostile attack, an enemy grenade landed in the immediate area occupied by Corporal Perkins and three other Marines. Realizing the inherent danger, he shouted the warning, "Incoming Grenade" to his fellow Marines, and in a valiant act of heroism, hurled himself upon the grenade absorbing the impact of the explosion with his own body thereby saving the lives of his comrades at the cost of his own. Through his exceptional courage and inspiring valor in the face of certain death, Corporal Perkins reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.cite web
accessdate=2007-11-13
url=http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/0000033ba9f47a7385255fa40060dad1?OpenDocument
title=Cpl William T. Perkins, Jr., Medal of Honor, 1967, 1/1/1, Vietnam
work=Medal of Honor citation
publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps
archivedate=2007-02-07
archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070222174747/http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/0000033ba9f47a7385255fa40060dad1?OpenDocument]In memory
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