From Brooklyn to Norwalk, and from high school hallways to battlefronts, the life of Wilfredo Perez Jr. embodied compassion, service, and sacrifice.

Early Life & Family Roots

Wilfredo Perez Jr. was born on December 19, 1978, in Brooklyn, New York. He spent his early childhood in Queens before relocating in his adolescence to Norwalk, Connecticut. Known by the affectionate nickname “Junior,” he carried a deep sense of responsibility from a young age — caring for his grandmother and great-aunt, and supporting siblings and extended family.

As a teen, Wilfredo attended Nathan Hale Middle School and later Norwalk High School, where he was part of the JROTC program and served as a peer counselor, helping classmates navigate conflicts. He also volunteered for charitable causes: for many years he walked for the MS Society and the American Diabetes Foundation, and as a youth he volunteered during the 1995 Special Olympics World Games.

Outside of school and service, Wilfredo had many interests. He enjoyed handball, skiing, golf, motorcycle rides — pursuits that spoke to his energetic spirit and love for adventure. Before enlisting, he worked alongside his father as a remodeling contractor and also held jobs locally in Norwalk. He even had ambitions to use the GI Bill and his experience designing signs — freehand and digitally — to pursue a career in graphic design.

Answering the Call — Military Service

Motivated by a sense of purpose, Wilfredo joined the U.S. Army on April 10, 2002. He trained first at Fort Benning, Georgia, then at Fort Hood, Texas. He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 4th Infantry Division — serving as an 11C Indirect Fire Infantryman (mortarman).

During his time before deployment, he returned to Norwalk in uniform to visit his old high school. Students and staff remembered him as proud, confident, and earnest — a young man who felt strongly about his commitment.

Service in Iraq & Final Sacrifice

Wilfredo was deployed to Iraq under Operation Iraqi Freedom. On July 26, 2003, while guarding a children’s hospital in Baqubah, north of Baghdad, he was killed in a grenade attack along with two fellow soldiers.

At just 24 years old, he became the first soldier from Norwalk to die in war since 1969 and one of the earliest Connecticut servicemen lost in Iraq.

For his service and sacrifice, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal (posthumously), and an Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service prior to his death. He was laid to rest at Cypress Hills Cemetery in Queens, New York.

Legacy — Community, Memory, and Giving Back

Wilfredo’s memory lives on not only in hearts but in concrete ways across Norwalk and beyond.

• His father, Wilfredo Perez Sr., established the Wilfredo Perez Jr. Memorial Fund, which has awarded thousands in scholarships to graduating high-school students from Norwalk High School and Brien McMahon High School — particularly those in ROTC or pursuing higher education.
• A memorial monument has been proposed (and in various forms partially installed) in Norwalk — including near Oyster Shell Park and along major local landmarks — to honor Wilfredo as well as veterans from Connecticut who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Each year his name and story are invoked in veteran ceremonies and remembrances — a solemn reminder of the human cost of war and the profound value of service.

Friends, classmates, and community members recall him as kind-hearted, charismatic, with a warm smile and ability to make people laugh — a person whose presence lingered long after he was gone. He was a soldier, a son, a brother, a friend — and an inspiration to many.

Wilfredo Perez Jr. Is Remembered

Wilfredo Perez Jr.’s life stands as a powerful reflection of values many hold dear: dedication to family, community service, empathy, and courage. By leaving behind a legacy of support for education, remembrance, and veteran recognition, he continues to impact lives.

He reminds us that heroes are not defined only by the uniform they wear, but by the hearts they touch — by everyday kindness, by the love for family and friendship, and by the willingness to stand up for others.

His story endures — as a call to remember, to honor, and to carry forward service and compassion in our own lives.