David Drake Perkins (1943 - 1966)

Born 20 Aug 1943 in Sacaton, Arizona, United States

Ancestors

Died 11 Oct 1966 at age 23 in Binh Dinh Province, South Vietnam

Biography

Private First Class David Perkins was Killed in Action in Vietnam during The Vietnam War.

PFC David Perkins served in the United States Army in the Vietnam War
Service started: 10 Sep 1966
Unit(s): 1st Cavalry Division
Service ended: 11 Oct 1966

DAVID DRAKE PERKINS of Coolidge, Arizona, was born 20 Aug 1943 in Sacaton, Arizona. David was killed during hostile action in Binh Dinh Province, South Vietnam on 11 Oct 1966, when a grenade exploded prematurely.^[1]

His mother, Mrs. Rosalie Jackson and grandmother Mrs. Rose Perkins, were notified of his death.^[1] David's obituary states that he was survived by his mother, Mrs. Roselie Montalvo; four half-sisters, Pamela, Cynthia, Rosa, and Loretta Montalvo; six brothers, Virgil, Richard, Randall, Ross, Harrison, and Robbie, all were residents of Eleven Mile Corner; and grandparents Mr. and Mrs. O. R. Perkins of Coolidge, Arizona.^[2]

On Memorial Day, 2017, the Gila River Indian Community, the Haskell Osife-Antone American Legion Post 51, with assistance from Gila River AmeriCorps, held a 50th anniversary event to honor PFC David Perkins and worked to raise funds for a headstone, as had not yet received one.^[3] At the Memorial Day event, David's sister, Pamela Jackson, was presented with the Arizona Gold Star Military Medal and shawl. David's uncle, Dennis Perkins also attended the event.^[4]

AWARDS RECEIVED

Individual: Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal,^[1] National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnamese Military Merit Medal, Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Individual Citation, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; Unit: Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation; Other: Rifle and Auto Rifle, Combat Infantryman 1st Award.^[5]

MILITARY SERVICE^[6]

Full Name: Perkins, David Drake

Rank: Private First Class

Grade: E3

Specialty: Light Weapons Infantry (ARMY)

Residence: Coolidge, AZ

Race: American Indian

Religion: Presbyterian

Marital Status: Single

Gender: Male

Date Of Birth: 20 Aug 1943

Tour Start Date: 10 Sep 1966

Casualty Date: 11 Oct 1966

Death Date: 11 Oct 1966

Age: 23

Casualty Type: Hostile, Died

Died Of: Misadventure (Friendly Fire)

Ground Air Sea: Ground Casualty

Body Recovery: Recovered

Place: Province and Military Region Unknown, South Vietnam

Service: Army

Enlistment Type: Regular

Years Served: 4

Major Command: 1st Cav Div

Company: A Co

Battalion: 2nd Bn

Regiment: 8th Cavalry

Panel: 11E

Line: 67

Conflict Period: Vietnam War

Served For: United States of America

Research Notes

LNAB of mother is not certain and father is currently unknown. Perkins may be father's LNAB and not mother's. Known uncle of David Drake Perkins is Dennis Perkins and known sister Pamela Jackson. This family needs more research.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} CoffeltDatabase.org - profile of David Drake Perkins, including DD-1300 (report of casualty).
2. ↑ Obituary published in Arizona Republic, (Phoenix, Arizona) 27 Oct 1966, page 26. Accessed online at Newspapers.com($).
3. ↑ Gila River Indian News, published 22 May 2017, Vol. 20, No. 10, page 13.
4. ↑ Gila River Indian News, published 2 Jun 2017.
5. ↑ TogetherWeServed.com - profile of David Drake Perkins.
6. ↑ Fold3.com - profile of David Drake Perkins.

See Also:

• Find A Grave, database and images: accessed 26 Feb 2019, PFC David Drake Perkins (20 Aug 1943–11 Oct 1966), Memorial 81537125, citing Squawbush Cemetery, Blackwater, Pinal Co., AZ: unsourced.
• VirtualWall.org - profile of David Drake Perkins.
• Wall of Faces - profile of David Drake Perkins.
• "United States Military Personnel who Died During the Vietnam War, 1956-2003," database, FamilySearch: 12 Dec 2014, David Drake Perkins, 11 Oct 1966; Province and Military Region Unknown, South Vietnam, panel 11E, line 067, NARA NAID 571687, National Archives at College Park, MD.
• "United States Casualties of the Vietnam War, 1956-1998," database, FamilySearch: 12 Dec 2014, David Drake Perkins, NARA NAID 306742, National Archives at College Park, MD.