After Four Decades, U.S. Navy Firefighter Honored for Ultimate Sacrifice

EMMITSBURG, MD – The plaque at the National Fallen Firefighter Memorial now includes the name of Navy Firefighter Perry Franklin Lee Wallace.

On Aug. 9, 1982, Wallace was riding on the backstep of a GMC 750 gpm pumper when it was involved in a crash in Adak, AK.

Wallace, 20, was killed and fellow Naval firefighter Terry Thoman suffered serious head and leg injuries.

Fast forward to 2025.

“I was looking at the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Facebook page where they remember firefighters who died in the line of duty. I saw 1982, and wondered if Perry had been honored. I looked at their data base and he wasn’t there,” fellow Naval Firefighter Gregg Tetro said.

That set Tetro on a mission to have his friend recognized for answering his final alarm.

After NFFF CEO Victor Stagnaro directed him about how to proceed, he started his investigation that included searching for newspaper and TV stories about the wreck. One Naval division section had no record of the deadly crash.

“I found several stories and a video. Also, I contacted several people to fill out the required witness statement. They were more than willing to help.”

Wallace’s sister, Pamela Ullrich, said she was suspicious of e-mails she received from Tetro. “I thought it was a scam.”

When she learned his efforts were sincere, she was all in as he and the other sailors pursued getting her brother honored.

Tetro added that receiving Wallace’s death certificate from Ullrich pushed their mission to success.

She was moved by the ceremony.

“I had no idea what to expect. It was beautiful especially the bagpipe music. It was all so thoughtful,” she said as she clutched the flag she was presented during the service.

Thoman, riding on the backstep of the rig with Wallace, said it was an honor to attend the ceremony where he was recognized.

NFFF officials made note of Wallace’s sacrifice: “For over four decades, Perry’s ultimate sacrifice went largely unrecorded. But in 2025, a group of his former colleagues from Naval Station Adak launched a special mission to ensure his legacy was not forgotten. Through their relentless perseverance in gathering documentation and witness statements, they successfully secured official recognition for his line-of-duty death. His name is now permanently preserved on both the Department of Defense and National Fallen Firefighter Memorials, a testament to his remarkable transformation and ultimate sacrifice. The dedication of his fellow sailors highlights the profound and lasting impact Perry had on those who served alongside him.”