Funeral Services – Arlington National Cemetery ***UPDATED***

After a backlog/delay from CV19 – we have scheduled funeral services for

James B Perkins III at Arlington National Cemetery
January 19, 2024 at 9:00am (please arrive 30-45min early)

Attendees should arrive 30-45 min early and bring a photo id for admittance
There will be a car procession to the onto cemetery (no Uber/Lift)

Join us for a Celebration of Life 
11:00am-2:00pm at Murphy's Irish Pub (a long time favorite)
713 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314

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Vice Admiral Perkins retired from active duty in 1999 after a successful 35-year career as a Surface Warfare Officer. His experience included six command tours as well as a wide variety of senior operational leadership positions. His last assignment was as Commander, Military Sealift Command: responsible for 110 ships, 8000 employees and a $2.1 billion annual budget. During this tour, he skillfully executed his responsibilities in coordination with all the military services, 33 ocean transportation companies, eight labor unions, the U.S. Congress, and Departments of State and Transportation; earning the NDTA DOD Distinguished Service Award for 1999.

From 1994 to 1997, as Deputy Commander in Chief (DCINC), U.S. Southern Command, he was responsible for operations involving over 5000 men and women from all military services in Central and South America. He led SOUTHCOM’s counter-drug, nation building and disaster relief efforts, and during a four-month period as Acting CINC, took a leadership role in resolving international crises in Paraguay and Ecuador – Peru. Prior to this tour, he commanded the 25-ship Amphibious Group Three, and served as Senior Naval Commander in Somalia for relief operations (1992) and again for U.S. force withdrawal (1994).

Admiral Perkins was Commander, Naval Forces Marianas from 1990-1992, with responsibility for over 10,000 servicemen and women and their families, as well as U.S. military relations with the Government of Guam. During this tour, he supervised the evacuation of over 21,000 military dependents from the Philippines after Mount Pinatubo erupted. Other significant duties have included command of a Guided Missile Frigate, command of a nine-ship Destroyer squadron, and CNO’s sponsor for the Navy’s current ASW suite.

After retiring from active duty in 1999 Vice Admiral Perkins served as President of L-3 Communications/TMA Corporation, providing project engineering, technical services, and information technology services to support government and commercial clients. Admiral Perkins also served as the Senior Military Advisor for the American Maritime Congress.

Admiral Perkins graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and earned a M.S. in Engineering Acoustics and a M.S. in National Security and Strategic Studies. He was a member of Sigma Xi, the Research Society of North America; the American Society of Naval Engineers; the Surface Navy Association; the Propeller Club and the National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA).

Admiral Perkins grew up in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Before graduating from Boothbay Region High School, he and his fellow teammates on the football team brought home the state championship trophy in 1958.

While he was known as Admiral Perkins to most, he was loving called, "Dad", "Padre", "Granddad", and "Brother" by his family.  He will be deeply missed by his family including Susan Perkins Wurts (daughter), James Perkins IV (son), Elmer Wurts (son-in-law), Andrea Perkins (daughter-in-law), and his grandchildren- Sarah Hirsch, Lillian Perkins, Adam Hirsch, Jason Hirsch, Claire Perkins, and Alexandra Perkins. 

In lieu of flowers please consider donations to:

Boothbay Waterfront Preservation
https://boothbayharborwaterfrontpreservation.com/index.html

Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library
https://bbhlibrary.org/support