Edward Leon Perkins

Services for Edward Perkins will be livestreamed on the Advantage Funeral and Cremation Service facebook page at 2pm Sunday, January 3, 2021 at the link below. A video of the service can also be found following the service at the same link provided below.

https://m.facebook.com/advantageokc/

A visitation for Edward will be held Saturday, January 2, 2021 from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Advantage Funeral & Cremation Service-South Chapel, 7720 South Pennsylvania Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73159. A funeral service will occur Sunday, January 3, 2021 at 2:00 PM, 7720 South Pennsylvania Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73159. A burial will occur Monday, January 4, 2021 at 10:00 AM at Fort Sill National Cemetery, 2648 NE Jake Dunn Rd, Elgin, OK 73538.

Edward Leon Perkins went to be with the Lord on Dec. 25th, 2020. Ed was 74 years, two months and 29 days old, was born on Sept. 27, 1946, the fourth child born to Nelson Ervin “Hiram” Perkins and Edna Hall Perkins in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Ed was one of fourteen brothers and sisters, and was preceded in death by his parents, older brothers Marvin, Lawrence Ervin, Jackie, Tommy, Jerry, and older sister Velva Kay and younger sister Carolyn King.

Ed joined the U. S. Armed Forces in 1964, serving briefly in the Navy before transferring to the U. S. Army, where he became a member of the elite “A” Company, 2/503rd Infantry of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, seeing action in South Vietnam from June 1, 1967, to May 31, 1968, and fought in two historically significant battles early in his stint in Vietnam.

Less than three weeks after arriving in Vietnam, he was one of only eight American soldiers surviving of the infamous “Battle of the Slopes” on Hill 1388 on June 22, 1967, when his 132-man platoon was overran by more than 1,500 of the NVA 4th Regiment.

Later in November 2-24, 1967, Ed’s “A” Company fought in the Battle for Hill 875, which saw 282 Americans perish on “The Hill,” inflicting 1400 casualties on the NVA 4th Regiment. Ed was wounded and received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart in that battle. Like many Vets, Ed suffered from PTSD the remaining 52 years of his life.

After returning from Vietnam, Ed continued in the Army Reserve for another fourteen years. In 1969, after his active stint in the Army ended, Ed met Patricia Louise Watts, and they were later married on Feb. 13, 1970.*

Ed suffered from the effects of Agent Orange from the time of his return from Vietnam until his passing. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Patricia, and sons Edward Leon “Teddy” Perkins II of Purcell and his wife Leslie; Aaron Wyman Perkins of Oklahoma City, and Amber Linn Perkins of Oklahoma City; seven Grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Ed graduated Central State University in 1976 with a B. S. in Criminology, and later successfully attended and passed the Oklahoma City Police Academy, winning an appointment as an OCPD officer but was unable to fulfill the appointment.

Ed held many jobs, most notably as a State Capitol Policeman, where he worked security at the Governor’s mansion, and at the Capitol’s IT Division. Before being diagnosed as 100% disabled due to PTSD, Ed worked as shipping and receiving supervisor at Hiland Dairy.

Since his PTSD diagnosis, Ed helped many of his support group get help with their PTSD issues. He stayed in touch with many of his 173rd Airborne buddies, and enjoyed making hand-crafted canes, staffs, and walking sticks with the 173rd Airborne insignia on them, often gifting them to former 173rd Airborne Brigade members.

Below is a list of good organizations to benefit American Veterans . . .

Fisher House Foundation (A+) Gary Sinise Foundation (A) Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (A) Semper Fi & Amercia’s Fund (A+) Wounded Warriors Family Support (A)