Emily Perez was a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army serving in Iraq who became the first female African-American officer in US military history to die in combat. After graduating from high school with honors, she entered the United States Military Academy at West Point. There she was an exemplary student and talented track star, becoming the highest-ranking African-American female cadet in the history of West Point. She was a Cadet Command Sargent Major.
Following graduation from West Point in 2005, she was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 204th Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division of the United States Army.
Perez was deployed to Iraq in December as a Medical Service Corps officer. Perez was killed in action on September 12, 2006, while leading a convoy through Al Kifl, Iraq. She was killed when a makeshift bomb exploded near her Humvee during combat operations in Al Kifl, near Najaf.
Lieutenant Perez’s military awards include the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Combat Action Badge. She posthumously received the NCAA Award of Valor in 2008. Her former unit honored her by naming a street “Emily’s Way” and a medical center the “Emily J.T. Perez Treatment Facility”. She is buried in West Point’s Cemetary. RIP Emily RIP.