Emily Perez was the first African American cadet Brigade Command Sgt. Major of United States Military Academy at West Point -- tough as nails in formation, she also spent her free time tutoring cadets and writing letters of encouragement to those who felt like quitting.
Deployed after graduation, 2nd Lt. Perez demonstrated this same selfless service by volunteering to go on convoy in place of an inexperienced leader and paying the ultimate sacrifice when an improvised explosive device took her life.
Her mother remembers, “In her diary, she wrote that people have taken care of her all her life and now she had the opportunity to take care of other people. Her biggest concern was taking care of her Soldiers.”
Learn more about her & Gold Star Families at: https://go.usa.gov/xGEuG
#GoldStarMother | #HispanicHeritageMonth | #ServeWithHonor
Deployed after graduation, 2nd Lt. Perez demonstrated this same selfless service by volunteering to go on convoy in place of an inexperienced leader and paying the ultimate sacrifice when an improvised explosive device took her life.
Her mother remembers, “In her diary, she wrote that people have taken care of her all her life and now she had the opportunity to take care of other people. Her biggest concern was taking care of her Soldiers.”
Learn more about her & Gold Star Families at: https://go.usa.gov/xGEuG
#GoldStarMother | #HispanicHeritageMonth | #ServeWithHonor
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Sounds like exactly the kind of leader the USMA should create and the kind of leader America needs.
ReplyDeleteI applaud her service and sacrifice, but a newly minted Second Lieutenant is about as green as they come. Her platoon sergeant was essentially in charge of trying to keep her and the others alive and complete the mission successfully. She was exactly the kind of leader that West Point creates and the kind of leader the Army needs.
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