James Perkins

Flight Sergeant

James Perkins enlisted in the Defence Forces in 1974 and served firstly with the Military Police and then with the Air Corps until his retirement in 2014. He was interviewed for the Military Archives Oral History Project in the Air Corps Museum, Baldonnel on 30 August 2016. Since his retirement he has volunteered at the Air Corps Museum, Baldonnel and with the Military Archives, Cathal Brugha Barracks, Rathmines. In these clips he shares some recollections of his overseas service in Lebanon.

Lebanon 2000

James Perkins
Interviewed for MAOHP - 30/08/2016
Location(s): Naqoura

Length: 1.00

In 2000 James went overseas as the Sergeant Major in Operations section in Naqoura, UNIFIL Headquarters. In this clip he explains that the Israeli Defence Forces withdrew from Lebanon during this time and the United Nations Force was occupied in securing and marking the Blue Line which denoted the border...

Convoy of White Vehicles

James Perkins
Interviewed for MAOHP - 30/08/2016
Location(s): Griffith Barracks

Length: 1.42

In this clip you will hear James speaking about the sense of excitement in the Defence Forces in 1978 when Irish troops began serving in Lebanon [UNIFIL]. He recalls that he was living in Griffith Barracks at the time and out of his window he saw a convoy of white...

Excitement to Serve Overseas

James Perkins
Interviewed for MAOHP - 30/08/2016
Location(s): Naqoura

Length: 1.35

James went to Lebanon in the summer of 1984 [with 11th Irish Component in UNIFIL Headquarters]. The interviewer asks him if casualties the Irish had incurred by that time affected his decision to go. James states that everyone was still so excited and it was something new. On reflection he...