Hector Manuel Perez

Command Sergeant Major Hector M. Perez, age 88 of Deltona, Florida, passed to be with the Lord and his beloved wife, Carmen Margarita, on January 3rd, 2017 at the Halifax Health Hospice Care Center in Orange City, Florida. He was born December 1, 1928 in Utuado, Puerto Rico, the son of Juan Ramon Perez and Manuela Juarbe. He married Carmen M. Abreu on November 3, 1951 in their hometown, Arecibo, Puerto Rico. They were married for almost 62 years, but knew each other for 68 years. Their love was always strong, even during times of separation. Their love was a unique and endless love story.

In November 1948, at age 19, he enlisted in the United States Army at Fort Bundy,

Puerto Rico. In September 1950, Hector was shipped to South Korea during the Korean War. He was a member of the 65th Infantry Regiment, also known as The Borinqueneers. The Borinqueneers was a regiment of the United States Army comprised entirely of Puerto Rican enlisted soldiers that fought and bravely served the U.S. during times of combat. In August 1951, Hector was wounded by a mortar explosion and sent to a hospital in Japan. At the end of October of 1951, he was sent to finish his recovery in Puerto Rico. On 3 November, 1951, he married Carmen Margarita Abreu in his hometown of Arecibo, Puerto Rico. Hector and Carmen had four children. Hector Guillermo, Edilsa Milagros, Annette Maria and Neil Edwin.

Hector continued his career in the United States Army and was stationed in many areas overseas and in the Continental United States. These included Germany, Belgium, Japan, Korea, Panama, Puerto Rico, Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Carson, Colorado; Fort Meade, Maryland; Fort Ord, California; Fort Kilmer, New Jersey; and Fort Polk, Louisiana. He also served in 2 major wars, The Korean War and The Vietnam War.

In 1975, Hector retired from the United States Army as a Command Sergeant Major, the highest attainable enlisted rank. He continued his service to our country as a Civil Service Federal Government Employee, and retired in 1992 for a combined service to our nation of 41 years.

While in the Army, he was awarded the following Medals, Commendations and Citations:

1. Combat Infantry Badge with one Star

2. Bronze Star Medal

3. Purple Heart

4. Bravery Cold Medal of Greece

5. Joint Service Commendation Medal

6. Army Commendation medal with 2 Oak Leaves

7. National Defense Service Medal with 1 Oak Leaf

8. Meritorious Service Medal

9. Good Conduct Medal (6 awards)

10. Korean Service Medal

11. Vietnam Service Medal

12. United Nation Service Medal

Hector was a deeply religious man and devoted much of his life to the Catholic Church. He was

a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. He joined the Knights in 1956. He was a member of the Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church.

Most importantly, his family came first to Hector. He was a devoted husband to Carmen, a protective and helpful father to his 4 children and a “Big Softie” when it came to his grandchildren and great- grandson. That great love reached well beyond to his extended family as well. There will be a huge void in our lives that will never be replaced. He was the strong bond that kept our family together as one.

Survivors include his children, Edilsa Philippi of Houston, Texas; Annette (Jeff) Deiters of Fredericksburg, Virginia; and Neil Perez of Deltona, Florida; his 7 grandchildren, Christina (Christian) Sasam of Austin, Texas; Joseph Philippi of Houston, Texas; Alyssa, Danielle and Matthew Deiters of Fredericksburg, Virginia; and Jazzmine and Caleb Perez of Newport, New Hampshire; 1 great-grandson, Jason Sasam of Austin, Texas; and honorary family member, Gerri Oliver.

He was preceded in death by his parents Juan Ramon Perez and Manuela Juarbe, older brother Tony Perez, younger sister Doris Castro, and his oldest son Hector Guillermo. His lovely wife, Carmen Margarita Perez Abreu, of almost 62 years passed 3 years earlier and will be waiting for him in the heavens to continue their last dance. One that will last forever. Hector’s family would like to praise the 3rd floor staff of Florida Hospital Fish Memorial PCU for their exceptional and loving care of Hector. They would also like to thank Halifax Health Hospice Center for providing Hector with loving comfort and quality of life in his final days on earth.

Hector’s family will celebrate his life and receive friends on Sunday January 8, 2017 at the Deltona Memorial Funeral Home, 1295 Saxon Blvd, Orange City, FL 32763 between the hours of 2pm to 4pm, and 6pm to 8pm. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, January 9, 2017 at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church, 1310 Maximillian Street, Deltona, Florida 32725. He will be laid to rest next to his wife, Carmen, at the Bushnell Florida National Cemetery at 2:00PM. It would our honor to have you join our family for this glorious occasion. Thank you and God bless.

In lieu of flowers, the family would request your gift to Hector be in the form of a donation to the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Charitable Service Trust. The website is www.cst.dav.org. The email for Hector Perez will be [email protected]. Our father loved the military and loved helping all veterans.