Emily Perez was born in Heidelberg, West Germany on February 19, 1983 to African American and Hispanic parents. Perez graduated high school in 2001 in the top 10 of her class. After graduation, she enrolled in the United States Military at West Point. There she became the highest-ranking African-American female cadet in the history of West Point serving as Corps Commander Sergeant Major. While at West Point, Perez ran track, outrunning most of the men, and directed a gospel choir. Following graduation in 2005, she was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the US Army.
Lieutenant Perez was deployed to Iraq in December 2005 as a Medical Service Corps officer. Shortly before shipping out to Iraq, she flew cross-country to be a bone marrow donor for a stranger. During her time in Iraq, Perez headed a weekly convoy as it rolled down treacherous roads, filled with bombs and bullets, near Najaf, Iraq. In September 2006, she was leading a platoon during combat operations south of Baghdad when a makeshift bomb exploded near her Humvee.
During her time in the military, Lieutenant Emily Perez was awarded 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. After her death, she was awarded the NCAA Award of Valor. Lieutenant Perez has a grave placed in West Point Cemetery.
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