▁Marine ▁Corps ▁in ▁ 1 9 0 0 . ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁and ▁occupation ▁of ▁V era ▁Cruz ▁F ry er ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁H ight st own , ▁New ▁Jersey ▁on ▁August ▁ 2 2 , ▁ 1 8 7 8 . ▁He ▁entered ▁West ▁Point ▁in ▁ 1 8 9 7 ▁as ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁class ▁of ▁ 1 9 0 1 , ▁but ▁was ▁honor ably ▁dis charg ed ▁on ▁June ▁ 1 9 , ▁ 1 8 9 9 . ▁He ▁was ▁appointed ▁Second ▁Lieutenant ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Marine ▁Corps ▁on ▁March ▁ 2 1 , ▁ 1 9 0 0 . ▁ ▁After ▁initial ▁training ▁at ▁the ▁Marine ▁bar ra cks , ▁in ▁New ▁York ▁City , ▁he ▁served ▁in ▁New port , ▁Rh ode ▁Island ▁( August ▁ 1 9 0 1 – J une ▁ 1 9 0 3 ). ▁During ▁that ▁time ▁he ▁serve ▁a ▁brief ▁period ▁of ▁duty ▁with ▁the ▁Marine ▁batt alion ▁in ▁Pan ama ▁( Se ptember ▁ 1 3 – Dec ember ▁ 8 , ▁ 1 9 0 2 ). ▁In ▁ 1 9 0 3 ▁to ▁ 1 9 0 5 , ▁he ▁served ▁with ▁the ▁Marine ▁expedition ary ▁batt alion ▁ab o ard ▁the ▁USS ▁Pan ther ▁and ▁at ▁Camp ▁Ro ose vel t , ▁C ule bra , ▁Puerto ▁Rico , ▁and ▁commanded ▁Mar ines ▁at ▁D ry ▁T ort ug as , ▁Florida . ▁ ▁Following ▁a ▁one - year ▁tour ▁of ▁duty ▁back