Emily Perez

Emily Jazmin Tatum Perez (19 February 1983 – 12 September 2006) was an American military officer. After graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point, Second Lieutenant Perez was serving in the Iraq War when she was killed in action by an improvised explosive device. She became the first black female officer in U.S. military history to die in combat.

Early life and education Perez was born in Heidelberg, West Germany, in a U.S. military family. Her mother was African-American and her father was Afro-Latino Puerto-Rican. As a child, she became fully fluent in German. When she was in tenth grade, her parents relocated to Maryland. She graduated from Oxon Hill High School, where she ranked among the top 5% of students in her class. At West Point, she was an exemplary student and talented track athlete. Perez set school records as a sprinter, led the school's gospel choir and started a dance squad. At West Point, she was given the nickname "Taz" by her classmates for her energy and short stature, at only . Upon graduation in 2005, Perez held the second highest rank in her senior class.

In December 2005, Perez was deployed to Iraq as a Medical Service Corps officer. Prior to deployment, she donated bone marrow to a stranger. She became the 64th female member of the U.S. military to be killed in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the 40th West Point graduate killed since the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Perez was buried with full military honors at the West Point Cemetery.

Honors and legacy

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.

Exhibitions Emily Perez's class ring, Bible and saber from West Point are now exhibited in the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Her identification tags, desert cap, and desert camouflage coat are exhibited in the National Museum of the United States Army.