Pevey, James Perry, St. Helena Parish, Louisiana
File prepared by D.N. Pardue and submitted by Inez Bridges Tate.
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From "St. Helena Vets Remember World War II: Personal Interviews
With World War II Vets", published by St. Helena Historical
Association, 1995.  Compiled and edited by Inez Bridges Tate and
reprinted with permission.

     James Perry Pevey (Perry) had left his native St. Helena
Parish after graduating from high school at Pine Grove in 1934,
to work in Port Arthur and Texas City, Texas.  On a whim, he
joined the Army in October, 1939.  He was sent to Goat Island,
California, and on to Hawaii where he took his basic training
in Coast Artillery near Honolulu.  He later transferred to the
infantry.

     Perry well remembers Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, "The
day that will live in infamy" to quote President Franklin D.
Roosevelt.  He was stationed at Schofield Barracks on the Island
of Oahu, Hawaiian Territory, not more than 30 miles from Pearl
Harbor.  They were near enough to know what was happening and
could hear the bombs as they struck our ships docked there.
Schofield was hit with antipersonnel bombs (small bombs) and was
strafed by low-flying Japanese Zero planes.

     In February 1942 Perry said that his unit was sent to re-
lieve the Marines on Guadalcanal.  Once the Island of Guadalcanal
was secure, they were then dispatched to various islands in the
South Pacific, clearing them of the Japanese.  He recalls New
Georgia and Arrundele.  They hit others during their island-
hopping, pushing the enemy ever closer to their homeland of
Japan.

     Perry remained in the South Pacific for another two and a 
half years and during this time was able to visit New Zealand
for Rest and Recreation.  He was very impressed with the cleanli-
ness of the country.  He noted beautiful, well-kept dairy farms.
He recalled the courage of the soldiers from New Zealand.  He
spoke of the English military personnel, pointing out that re-
gardless of the heat of the battle, they would stop for their
"spot of tea."

     Upon his return stateside, Perry gave orientation programs
to Air Force Cadets at various Air Stations in Louisiana, Texas,
and Mississippi.

     Perry reached the rank of First Sergeant before his dis-
charge from the Army in April, 1945.  With the coveted discharge
in hand, he returned to St. Helena where he operated both a 
dairy farm and a chicken farm.  He commuted to Baton Rouge for
29 years to work at Exxon.

     Now retired, he and his wife Peggy live in Montpelier where
he gardens and keeps a variety of animals.  He is very active in
the Montpelier Baptist Church serving very ably as Chairman of
the Buildings and Grounds Committee.  A special pleasure is
Peggy's grandson, Benji, who he encourages in school and various
activities including football.

As told to Inez Tate December 1991.  Since this date James Perry
Pevey has passed away.

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