Emily Jazmin Tatum Perez
Emily Jazmin Tatum Perez (1983-2006) was a groundbreaking U.S. Army officer, community servant, and champion for public health whose legacy continues to shape future generations. Born in Heidelberg, West Germany, into a military family with an African American mother and a Puerto Rican father, she proudly identified as “Afro-Rican.” Raised in an nvironment rooted in duty, discipline, and service, Emily developed an early commitment to leadership and community well-being.
After relocating to Maryland during her teenage years, Emily attended Oxon Hill High School, where she graduated among the top ten students in her class. A gifted athlete, she was a track star and an active member of the 1st European Chapter of the Jack and Jill of America program, reflecting her early engagement in leadership, cultural pride, and service. As a teenager, she demonstrated extraordinary compassion and courage by founding an HIV/AIDS ministry at her church, educating and supporting vulnerable communities during a time of widespread stigma and limited public understanding.
In 2001, Emily entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, where she distinguished herself academically, physically, and morally. Her exceptional leadership earned her historic recognition as the first African American and first Latina woman to serve as Cadet Command Sergeant Major. She was also the highest-ranking woman of color cadet in West Point history at the time. Emily was widely respected by her peers and superiors for her discipline, moral courage, and unique ability to unite people across backgrounds.
Upon graduating in 2005, Emily was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps, where she merged her passion for healthcare with her dedication to service. She deployed to Iraq in December 2005 with the 204th Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. On September 12, 2006, while leading a convoy in Al Kifl, Iraq, her vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED). She was 23 years old.
Emily became the first African American female officer in U.S. military history to be killed in combat and the first female graduate of the United States Military Academy to lose her life in the Iraq War, marking a profound moment in the history of women’s service on the front lines. Her sacrifice and impact are memorialized through numerous military honors, including the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Emily’s compelling life story and personal military memorabilia are preserved and displayed at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., as well as at the Military Women’s Memorial, ensuring her contributions are recognized as part of the nation’s collective history.
Emily’s legacy continues through the Emily J.T. Perez Foundation, which empowers young women and girls through leadership development, STEM education, resilience training, scholarships, and community service initiatives. Her life stands as a powerful symbol of courage, compassion, and the enduring belief that service to others is among the highest callings.