Spanish

Michael Peralta Perez Jr. (December 15, 1926-January 16, 2017)

Marine Aircraft Group 31, Marine Fighter Squadron 111,

US NAVY, US AIR FORCE

By Oliver Brown

Early Life

Michael Peraltra Perez Jr. was born in San Antonio, Texas on December 15, 1926, the second son of Michael Sr. and Henrietta Perez.¹ Michael Sr. was born in Monterrey, Mexico in 1899 and immigrated to the US in 1912 at the age of thirteen; Henrietta was born in Piedras Negras, Mexico in 1905.² She was born to Jose and Adela Garde, with an older sister named Concha.³ When she immigrated to the US through Eagle Pass, TX in 1908, Henrietta still went by her birth name Enriqueta.⁴ Henrietta entered the US alongside her parents and older sister, and after crossing the border she changed her name from Enriqueta sometime in the 1920s.⁵ It was common for immigrants after entering the US to anglicize their names to assimilate and avoid discrimination. Their family might have been fleeing the political turmoil in the build-up to the Mexican Revolution in the early 1900s.⁶ Michael Perez Sr. in 1918, served in the US Army during the First World War.⁷ During the war, he served as a wagoner, driving horse wagons and delivering supplies to the front lines.⁸

Michael Perez Sr. and Henrietta married in San Antonio, TX on April 21, 1924.⁹ The couple had their first child, Rudolph, that same year, followed by Michael Jr. two years later in 1926, Richard in 1929, and their youngest son, Henry, in 1931.¹⁰

Michael Sr. worked as an erector in 1930.¹¹ Erectors built the steel skeleton frames of construction projects, a dangerous job during the time that required working at great heights with few safety precautions taken compared to the present day.¹² San Antonio was the largest city in Texas in the 1920s, with a growing population throughout the decade. It continued to expand its city limits providing plenty of construction jobs. However, by the 1930s the population growth slowed during the Great Depression.¹³ By 1940, Michael Sr. had switched professions to become a bank security guard.¹⁴ Along with Michael Sr.’s switch in professions, the family also moved sometime between 1930 and 1940 from West Theo Ave to Resco Street, in San Antonio. On Resco Street, they were able to purchase and own a home with Michael Sr. supporting the family through his job, an amazing feat for an immigrant family during the Depression years.¹⁵ This allowed Michael and his brothers to attend school; in 1940, he and his older brother Rudolph attended high school.¹⁶ Michael remained too young to qualify for the draft in 1942; however, despite being only sixteen years old at the time he lied about his age to enlist in the military. He claimed to be two years older than he was, pushing his birth year from 1926 to 1924.¹⁷

Military Service

January 1944 Marine Muster Roll, listing Michael in the field

Michael enlisted in the Navy on December 7, 1942.¹⁸ He trained as a corpsman and served as a field medic.¹⁹ The Marine Corps medical support logistics comes from the Department of the Navy. As a naval corpsman, Michael was assigned as one of these medics, and in October of 1943, he was stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, located in San Diego.²⁰ By January 1944, Michael was promoted to hospital apprentice first class, and stationed in the field, attached to the Marine Aircraft Group 31, fighter squadron VMF-111, as seen here.²¹ Marine Aircraft Group 31 was stationed at bases across the Pacific theater of war, including the Gilbert Islands and Roi Island.²² Throughout 1944 it flew missions targeting the Japanese garrisons on the Marshall Islands.²³ During this time Michael was stationed at one of the fields with Aircraft Group 31, Michael likely aided soldiers wounded after combat missions.

By the time Marine Aircraft Group 31 moved onto Okinawa in April 1945, Michael had returned to the US.²⁴ By April of 1945 Michael, now having achieved the rank of Pharmacist Mate Second Class, joined Marine Air Control Squadron 2 in San Diego, California.²⁵ Following Japan’s surrender on September 2, 1945, Michael rejoined Marine Aircraft Group 31, attached to Marine Service Squadron 31, during the US occupation of Japan. He was stationed in Yokosuka on Honshu Island by January of 1946.²⁶

1950 Census record listing Michael’s family and occupation

Post World War II, Michael was discharged from the military, returning to civilian life by 1950 and was working as a fireman.²⁷ However, he’d later return to service and commission as an officer in the US Air Force during the Cold War. While in the Air Force, he flew bomber missions under the Strategic Air Command during the Korean War.²⁸ The Strategic Air Command was responsible for overseeing the operations of strategic bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles during the Cold War, overseen by the Department of defense.²⁹ Michael flew cargo airlifts under the Military Airlift Command during the Vietnam War. After his service in Vietnam, Michael flew Air Rescue missions in Portugal until he retired in 1970 having reached the rank of Major, and earned the Air Medal.³⁰

Post-Service Life

After retiring from service Michael moved to Cocoa Beach, FL with his family in 1970.³¹ He married Anna Maria Cavazos sometime after 1950, and they had their first son Michael Robert Perez in 1953, with a second son Mark Perez born at a later date.³² Throughout his life, in addition to his military service, he worked as a fireman, commercial sign painter, correctional officer, college instructor, and marine salesman. Michael also enjoyed restoring classic cars and renovating homes.³³ After living a long and adventure-filled life, Michael Perez passed away on January 16, 2017, in his home surrounded by family at the age of 90. He was laid to rest at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery section 9, plot 587 in Mims, Florida.³⁴ From his two sons, Michael is survived by three grandchildren and a great-grandson by the time of his death.³⁵

Michael was not the only member of his family buried in a National Cemetery, all his brothers and parents were buried as well. Michael’s mother Henrietta following her death in 1982, and his father Michael Sr.’s death in 1984 were both buried in the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.³⁶ His brothers Rudolph and Richard Perez both served during World War II. Richard joined the Marine Corps during the war, fighting in the same theater as Michael. He’d later pass away in 2001 and be buried in the Fort Smith National Cemetery.³⁷ Rudolph made a career out of the military and rose to the rank of Colonel, serving in Korea and Vietnam after World War II. He served in the Air Force, earning the Bronze Star, Air Medal, and Air Force Commendation Medal. After passing away in 2015 Rudolph was buried in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery just like his parents before him.³⁸ Finally, the youngest brother Henry joined the Marine Corps like his brother Richard, serving in Korea, and Vietnam. Henry Perez passed away in 2011 and was buried in the Georgia National Cemetery.³⁹ A family of veterans, with a long history of service to the US, like many other Hispanic Americans before and after them serving their country with valor.

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