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Local soldier dies in Afghanistan

June 23, 2007 12:35 am

BY EDIE GROSS

Dusty Perrott spent most of his childhood airborne, jumping off furniture, vaulting off the top stair or--at least once--leaping from the roof of the backyard treehouse.

That last adventure resulted in a broken arm, but Perrott's parents say it didn't dull his appetite for adventure.

So when the 2003 Chancellor High School graduate announced he was joining the Army, and later when he settled on being a paratrooper, they weren't surprised.

"He jumped off everything," recalled Perrott's mother, Susan Calamos. "I think the parachuting was in him from the beginning."

The 23-year-old's family gathered at his childhood home in Spotsylvania yesterday, a day after Perrott was killed when a bomb exploded near his vehicle in Afghanistan.

They recalled the rough-and-tumble boy with the mischievous smile who grew into a man intent on serving his country.

"He had that, what do you call that attitude that young men have? 'I can do anything. I'm invincible.' He believed he could do anything," his mother said. "Of course, as you grow older, that gets deflated. And it did get deflated some. But up until the end, he felt like he wanted to serve his country, and he knew he could do it well."

Perrott was a sergeant with the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, N.C.

He joined the Army in March 2004 and reported to the 82nd Airborne five months later.

"When he found out, 'Oh, they can jump out of planes,' he knew that's what he wanted to do," said his sister, Angie Barr.

Perrott often talked about his Army buddies but didn't discuss his job that much, his family said.

His father, John Calamos, described him as the quintessential "strong, silent type," quick with a joke or a smile but never a complaint.

Perrott went on and on about how excited he was to share 60 boxes of Girl Scout cookies with his fellow soldiers when a friend of his mother shipped them over.

But he didn't talk much about Afghanistan, where he had been since February.

Only in his last phone call to his parents on June 6 did he mention that the country seemed harsher, more remote, than Iraq, where he served from December 2004 to March 2005.

But he didn't dwell on it, his mother said. He was looking forward to coming home for a break in November.

On Thursday, Perrott was on patrol in Miri, Afghanistan, about 60 miles southwest of Kabul, when he was killed, according to information from the Army.

"Sgt. Perrott was a tremendous paratrooper who had been a leader in this organization for a long time. He was the kind of leader that infused others with motivation," the regiment's commander, Lt. Col. Timothy McAteer, said in a statement. "You just couldn't help but smile when you talked to him."

His attitude was infectious. At Fredericksburg Christian Elementary School, one of his earliest teachers gave him a "comedian award," remarking that even though his antics sometimes got him into trouble, "we enjoyed the laughter you brought us."

Perrott would have been married three years in August. His parents said he met Anna Marie when the two worked at the Great Steak & Potato Co. as teenagers.

In a statement issued by the Army, his wife described him as a "gentle giant" who loved to sky-dive and play the drums.

"Sgt. Dustin Perrott wasn't just a soldier, he was an amazing person and a wonderful husband," she wrote. "Dusty was always smiling and laughing. Everyone always seemed drawn to his kindness. Sgt. Perrott was that guy that would give you the shirt off his back and the last dollar to his name."

Perrott had received a host of awards and decorations since joining the Army, including the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal.

Perrott is one of at least 20 men and one woman with local ties to die in combat during the past four years. He is the second to die in Afghanistan.

In addition to his wife, parents and sister, Perrott is survived by his grandmother Martha Meyer; nephews Caleb, 2, and Lance, 5 months; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Perrott's biological father, Robert Perrott, also served in the Army, attaining the rank of sergeant. He died of cancer when his son was just 4 and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Dusty Perrott will be buried next to him.

"Sgt. Dustin Perrott wasn't just a Soldier, he was an amazing person and a wonderful husband. Sgt. Perrott was known by the name of Dusty. Dusty was always smiling and laughing. Everyone always seemed drawn to his kindness. Dusty was a huge guy. We also called him the 'Gentle Giant.' Dusty loved to play his drums, he has played since he was just a kid. Dusty had an ear for music like nothing I've ever seen. Although he couldn't read sheet music, he could hear something once and play it right back with no error. He loved all music from Snot to Elton John. Sgt. Perrott was that guy that would give you the shirt off his back and the last dollar to his name.

His father was a service member, and from the first day I met him (Dusty), he always wanted to be in the Army. I'll never forget how proud he was and how tall he stood the day he enlisted. Dusty has always been HOOAH about his job and understood what could happen to an Infantryman.

'I want to serve my country, I'm proud to serve my country,' he'd always say, although he'd never brag or boast about his career. After work and playing the drums, Dusty loved to go skydiving. Dusty jumped with the Army Golden Knights many times while working on his civilian skydiving license.

He loved spending time with his granny and mother. He'd always say I love those women. He loved and adored our Black Lab, Butler. He also enjoyed playing cards and watching his DVDs. We collected DVDs and have over 500. His favorite movies were Goodfellas, Pulp Fiction, Forrest Gump, Casino, Talledega Nights, and many, many more. Sgt. Clouse was also in 2-508 and was Sgt. Perrott's best friend. They were always together and Sgt. Clouse meant the most to him. Dusty had many other friends in the unit including: Sgt. Fletcher, Orr, Conner, Ryder, Beck, McCabe, Frientz, Blain, Emerich, Dochnal, Gerrish, Edmunds, and many others. Dusty had many friends from Fredericksburg, as well, including: Chris Burkle, Bobby Maddox, Jason Rendon, Jamie and Sgt. Ryan Tarmen, Jennifer Bishop, Marc Lambert, Jessica and Spc. Chinchilla and the McDonald family and many others.

I will always miss my husband and my love for him will always grow. The vows we pledged said 'till death do us part' and only half my heart went to Iraq and Afghanistan, and now half my heart is with him for good. We may not be together physically, but we will always be in each other's hearts. I love you always and forever and you will always be my hero. Our bond and love will never be broken. You're my one and only always. RIP Sgt. Perrott 05-05-1984 – 06-21-2007”

Dusty and Anna were married on August 13th, 2004. They’ve been together since December 22, 2002.