[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 20527]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO PFC. WILFREDO PEREZ, JR.

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to the late Pfc. 
Wilfredo Perez, Jr., of Norwalk, CT, who was killed in the line of duty 
last Saturday while guarding a children's hospital in Iraq.
  Private Perez, who was 24 years old and served with the 4th Infantry 
Division, was the third resident of Connecticut to fall in Iraq since 
the onset of Operation Iraqi Freedom earlier this year. He made the 
ultimate sacrifice for our nation--and his bravery and heroism will not 
be forgotten by the people of Connecticut.
  Wilfredo Perez was born in New York City and moved to Connecticut 
with his father, Wilfredo, Sr. while he was in middle school. He and 
his family were well-loved in their community, especially around 
Halloween time when their haunted house was a neighborhood favorite.
  Throughout his years at Norwalk High School, Wilfredo Perez became 
known as a playful, mischievous type--a boy who would show up to Junior 
Air Force ROTC with his uniform untucked, or with no uniform at all. He 
left high school early and went to work as a contractor with his 
father.
  A few years later, though, Wilfredo began to change. He made a 
commitment to turn his life around and earned his GED. Then, a little 
more than a year ago, he made a commitment to his country by enlisting 
in the United States Army.
  Enlisting in the Armed Forces can mean many things to many people. 
For Wilfredo Perez, it was a personal challenge--a challenge to better 
himself, to develop as an individual, to find a sense of direction, and 
to pave the way for a successful future. Private Perez not only met his 
own goals he exceeded all expectations.
  Shortly before he was transferred to Iraq, Private Perez returned to 
Norwalk and visited his old high school. His former teachers and 
principal watched as the boy whose shirt was always untucked strode 
confidently through the hallways in a pristine military uniform, 
beaming with pride. He spoke to students in school about his life--
about the mistakes that he made, and about the path that he ultimately 
chose.
  For Wilfredo Perez, the United States Army was truly a rewarding, 
transforming experience. And like so many of our finest men and women 
whose lives are tragically cut short, there is simply no telling how 
far he could have gone.
  I join the State of Connecticut--and indeed the entire country--in 
mourning Wilfredo Perez, and in thanking him for his tremendous service 
to our country. I offer my deepest condolences to his family, his 
friends, and everyone else whose life was touched by Pfc. Wilfredo 
Perez.

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