Vincent "Jim" Perrone

Major U.S. Army Retired

Son of the late Salvatore and Josephine Perrone. He was the husband of the late Rose Culotta Perrone.

Jim attended St. Patricks School in Norwich, graduated from the Norwich Free Academy, Becker College of Business Administration, Long Island University (Mitchell College Branch), and received his Masters Degree from the University of Hartford.

He enlisted in the Navy, September 17, 1940 and received training at the Naval Training Station, Newport, Rhode Island. He was promoted from Apprentice Seaman to all the Enlisted grades including Chief Petty Officer and then on to Commissioned Warrant Officer.

During World War II, Jim served aboard the USS Fremont and the USS Bering Strait in the Pacific Theater. While aboard the USS Fremont, he participated in the invasions of the Island of Saipan, Palau, the Philippines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. While aboard the USS Bering Strait, the missions assigned were to pick up survivors of the U.S. Air Force Bombers returning from their missions over Tokyo, Japan called the Air-Sea Rescue Operation. He received the following Navy Awards: American Theater Medal, American Defense Medal, Victory Medal World War II, The Asiatic Pacific Medal with five Bronze Stars, The Good Conduct Medal, and the Philippine Liberation Medal with one Star.

Jim left the Navy after World War II ended, from there he received a direct commission from the U.S. Army as 2nd Lieutenant. He attended Officers Training at Fort Benning, GA. After Officer Training he was assigned to the 39th AAA Battalion at Ft. Bliss, TX. From there he went to Sculthorpe England where he completed a three year tour, after his tour he attended a Field Artillery Transition course at Ft. Sill, OK. He was next assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division at Ft. Lewis, WA he commanded Battery "A" of the Division Artillery. He later attended the Army Language School in Monterey, CA where he studied the Cantonese dialect of Chinese. After school he was assigned as a Battery Commander of the 68th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion. This unit was located on an isolated island off Inchon, Korea called Yung-Jung-Do. While there he received a Letter of Commendation from General I.D. White, Commander in Chief of AFFE, 8th Army for "Outstanding Service performed while Battery Commander of Battery A, 68th AAA Battalion, 10th AAA Group."

When he returned to the states, he was assigned to the USA Air Defense School at Ft. Bliss, TX where he attended the Associate Advanced AA and Surface to Air Missile Officer Advanced Course. In April of 1958, Jim was assigned as the Commander of Battery B of the 3rd Missile Battalion, 44th Artillery. This was a Nike Ajax Missile Battery at Fairfield, CT. His next assignment took him to Ft. Totten, NY where he joined the 1st Region Army Air Defense Command, he served as the Deputy G-2 Intelligence Officer. While stationed there he received The Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Medal, and the Armed Forces Rescue Medal. During his time at Ft. Totten he was promoted to the rank of Major. Jim retired from the Army in April of 1963.

After retiring from the Army, Jim returned home to Norwich, received his Masters Degree from the University of Hartford and taught at the Norwich Free Academy for 20 years where he taught business classes and was the Campus Store Advisor. He retired from NFA in 1984.

He is survived by his daughters; Betty Choate and husband Jim of Olympia, WA, JoAnn Fadeley and husband Jake of Katy, TX, grandchildren; Susan Choate of Portland, OR, Ryan Choate of Seattle, WA, Jillian Fadeley Dees and husband Trent of Anacortes, WA, Petty Officer 2nd Class Sean Fadeley USCG stationed in Kodiak, Alaska, brothers; Dominic of Groton, Arthur of Norwich and sister, Julia Gropelli of Pawcatuck, CT. Besides his wife, Jim was also predeceased by his brothers; Angelo, Piff, Joe, Anthony, John, and sisters; Rose Tolvo and Ambrosia Perrone.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, April 11th at 10am at Sacred Heart Church, 52 West Town St., Norwich, CT [meeting directly at church] immediately followed by interment with Military Honors at St. Joseph Cemetery in Norwich. Visitation will be held Sunday, April 10th from 4pm to 6pm at Labenski Funeral Home, 107 Boswell Ave., Norwich, CT.

Donations in Jim’s memory may be made to Sacred Heart Church.

To leave a condolence, share a memory, or read more about Jim’s military service, please visit www.labenskifuneralhome.com