by Jim Sheppard » Tue Aug 28, 2012 12:18 pm
Thanks for the responses! I still don't have a definate ID, but still waiting to hear from Rigo Ordaz....who I believe is "on location" shooting a movie in Texas. I did not want to prejudice the ID process by telling who the person is...but that doesn't seem important any more. Dale Rasmussen, who reports he was with "D" Company at LZ Litts, sent me photos of Joseph E Perez. It seems Rasmussen and Perez went through Basic and AIT at Fort Bliss before joing "D" Company in December of 1967. Rasmussen sent photos from a graduation album of some sort that identify Joe Perez. I am in the process of updating Perez' memorial page but wanted to make sure. However, one of the photos sent to me identifies in print: "Joseph E Perez".
At one time we were in touch with Joe Perez's brother John...but the e-mail address we had for John no longer works. John was quite adament about Joe's body never being found...a misconception, since several eyewitnesses described his demise...and related how he was burned beyond recognition. Unfortunately, John was very negative with us about this "Missing" concept....obviously still holding on to some sort of misguided hope...even after all these years. Sad.