Little Village in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Manuel Pérez, Jr. Memorial Plaza
Private First Class Manuel Pérez, Jr.
| — | World War II | — |
Photographed by Sean Flynn
1. The Manuel Pérez, Jr. Memorial Plaza Marker
Manuel Pérez, Jr. was born on March 3, 1923 in Oklahoma City, OK. Relocating to Chicago's Little Village neighborhood at the age of two. Pérez was educated in the Chicago Public School system and belonged to the St. Francis of Assisi parish.
In 1943, Pérez was drafted into the United States Army to serve in World War I During basic training. Manuel volunteered for parachute duty and was assigned to Company A, 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division.
Two years later, this division would be sent to the Pacific Theater of war to fight in the Battle of Luzon in the Philippine Islands. On February 13, 1945, while serving as Company A's lead Infantry scout, Pérez's unit was pinned under heavy enemy fire. Realizing artillery-enforced cement pillboxes were preventing his division's advance, Pérez charged ahead with hand grenades—suppressing incoming artillery fire and destroying 11 of the 12 bunkers before engaging in hand-to-hand combat that resulted in the deaths of 18 Japanese enemy soldiers. In response to such heroism, his command submitted Pérez to receive the nation's highest military tribute: the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Before he could receive this honor, however, Private First Class Pérez was shot and killed by an enemy sniper on March 14, 1945. For his many acts of courage, heroism, and valor, Pérez was posthumously awarded the prestigious Congressional Medal of Honor.
In recognition of his life, sacrifice, and enduring legacy, the Manuel Pérez, Jr. Memorial Plaza was named in his honor on April 25, 1980.
En el 1943, fue recludtado por los Estados Unidos para servir en las fuerzas armadas durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Durante el entrenamiento básico, Pérez se ofreció voluntario para paracaidista militar y lo asignaron a la 11º División Aerotransportada de la Compañía A del Regimiento de Infantería Paracaidista.
Dos años, esta división fue enviada al Frente del Océano Pacífico donde lucharía en la Batalla de Luzón, una isla norteña de las Filipinas. El 13 de febrero de 1945, mientras servía como explorador principal de la Compañia A, su unidad se encontró batida por la artillería le impedían el paso, Pérez se abalanzó al recinto de los enemigos con granadas de mano—así poniendo fin al fuego enemigo entrante y destruyendo 11 de los 12 búnkeres antes de enfrentarse al combate cuerpo a cuerpo que resultó en las muertas de 18 soldados japoneses enemigos. Debido a su gran heroismo, fue nominado para la mayor condecoración militar otorgada por los Estados Unidos: la Medalla de Honor.
Sin embargo, antes de que pudiese recibir este honor, el soldado de primera clase fue asesinado a tiros por un francotirador el 14 de marzo de 1945. Por sus muchos actos de coraje, herismo, y valor, recibió póstumamente la prestigiosa Medalla de Honor.
En homenaje a su vida, sacrificio, y legado duradero, la Plaza de Manual Pérez, Jr. fue nombrada en su honor el 25 de abril de 1980.
Topics and series.
this page online
Location. 41° 50.644′ N, 87° 43.97′ W. Memorial is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Little Village. It is on 26th Street east of Kostner Avenue, on the right when traveling east. The marker is in the northeast corner of the plaza, near the sidewalk along 26th Street. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 4345 West 26th Street, Chicago IL 60623, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Manuel Perez Jr. Memorial Plaza (a few steps from this marker); Rudy Lozano
Photographed by Sean Flynn, December 15, 2023
2. Manuel Pérez, Jr. Memorial Plaza
A south-facing view of the plaza, away from the marker, shows the Pérez mural that was added to the rear of the park in 2021. The far right of the photo shows the platform where, off-camera, the park's first markers for Manuel Pérez were dedicated in 1981.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Site of Cicero Town Hall (was approx. 0.8 miles away but has been confirmed missing).
More about this memorial. The rear (east-facing) side of the marker highlights four community events in the Little Village neighborhood. About 10 yards away near the center of the plaza is an older marble marker and a plaque briefly describing Pérez's heroism.
According to the Little Village Community Foundation, this plaza is the only memorial in Illinois named after a Mexican-American veteran. It was dedicated in 1981; a mural depicting Perez's heroics was added to a wall on the south end of the small park in 2021.
Regarding The Manuel Pérez, Jr. Memorial Plaza. In
Photographed by Sean Flynn, December 15, 2023
3. Manuel Pérez, Jr. Memorial Plaza
The marker is in the far background, in the right center of this photo.
Photographed by Sean Flynn, December 15, 2023
4. The Manuel Pérez, Jr. Memorial Plaza
A photo of the plaza from 26th Street. The marker's red border can be seen on the left.
Courtesy of U.S. Latino and Latina World War II Oral History Project, University of Texas at Austin
5. Manuel Pérez Jr. (1923-1945)
Credits. This page was last revised on May 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 18, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 493 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 18, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
