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<p>In 1956, for the first time in the history of the USMA Foreign Cadet Program, the government of Honduras sent a candidate to enroll at West Point. That pathfinding cadet was <em>Julio Edgardo Pérez</em>, who joined our diminutive band of brothers of Company A-2 in late August that year. Sometimes known as Sam, he was well aware that he had been appointed after very stiff competition and that his country held high expectations regarding his success. He did not disappoint. He brightened up the world around him with his cheerful spirit and helped rescue many a language goat with his multiple language skills in Spanish, French and English. Julio was a good friend who represented his part of the world well. He was that perfect balance between adopting American culture and retaining the best parts of his own. He was formally classified as a “foreign” cadet, but he was anything but foreign to us, his companymates.</p>
<p>After graduation he returned to Tegucigalpa, Honduras and was commissioned in the Honduran Army Engineers. No sooner had he departed the U.S., he returned, enrolling at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, NY. He joined and graduated with the RPI Class of 1961, majoring in civil engineering. When he returned home, he reconnected with his wife to be, Conchita, and they were married in 1962. They would be blessed with four children: Ana Isabel, Carlos Fernando, Julio Arturo, and Leonardo. </p>
<p>Julio’s first formal assignment was serving as the aide-de-camp to the commanding officer of the Honduran Armed Forces. After several years Julio was granted a four-year leave of absence to work as a civil engineer for Standard Fruit Company. Recalled to active military service in 1967, he oversaw the construction of military cantonments and served as an engineer battalion operations officer. In 1973-74, he attended the U.S. Army Engineer Officer Advanced Course at Fort Belvoir, VA. In 1975 he was seconded to the executive branch of the Honduran government, serving as vice minister for the Communications, Public Works and Transportation departments, with broad supervisory powers over the civil aviation, postal, telecommunications and transport sectors.</p>
<p>In 1975 Julio was selected to attend Command and General Staff College at the School of the Americas, staying on for a tour on the staff of CGSC. In 1981 he was once again seconded to the government, serving as general manager of the National Telecommunications Company. Returning to the army he served as CO of an engineer battalion, as Armed Forces Joint Staff director of logistics, commandant of the Logistics Support Command, and chief of engineers. </p>
<p>In 1990 Julio was appointed Defense and Armed Forces attaché to the United States. He was stationed at the Honduran Embassy in Washington, DC. We were delighted that Julio and Conchita attended the 30th Reunion of the Class of 1960. A great time was had by all who were there, remembering our starting years as members of the Long Gray Line. For those of us who had the opportunity of meeting Julio and his family during this assignment, we were very proud as we learned of his achievements and the honor of representing his country at this high level in Washington. </p>
<p>He retired from the army in 1992 and held many positions in the private sector. He served as an engineering manager and consultant, a public works auditor and as a legal representative for Ericsson Telecommunications in its dealings with the Honduran government. His last assignment was as vice minister of national defense, supervising the daily activities of the Armed Forces Joint Staff from 2002 to 2005.</p>
<p>Julio passed away on October 4, 2008. He was a dedicated military professional serving a country with a turbulent history during his lifetime. He chose a path that allowed him to keep intact the values he displayed and further honed at West Point. Julio’s nephew, who knew him well, eulogized him on the West Point Association of Graduates’ “Be Thou at Peace” website: “It’s not the trappings of the soldier that makes the man. It’s living life, making choices that define the soldier and the man inside the uniform. I have always associated the characteristics of Duty, Honor and Country with my uncle. He always kept his honor in performing his duties and was a trustworthy soldier and man.”</p>
<p>In 2022 Julio’s four children penned this tribute to him:</p>
<p>Dad was more than an honorable soldier. He was an honest and loving husband, married for 46 years and an example to family, friends, colleagues and fellow soldiers. He was a meticulous, extremely tidy, methodical, ordered person and a Christian—also a loyal, honorable, fair, responsible and authentic father, husband, brother, son, grandfather and friend. In 1974, after the devastation left by Hurricane Fifi, as Vice Secretary of Communications, Public Works and Transportation, he worked and slept on site as a commander should instead of in a hotel as expected. That kept everyone’s morale high. We constantly meet people who knew him and get nothing but kind words and admiration. We walk proudly with our heads high, honoring his legacy learned at home, but undeniably solidified at West Point.</p>
<p>Well done, Julio. Rest in Peace.</p>
<p><em>— Company A-2 classmates and Julio’s family</em></p>
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