being drafted in 1943 took him to new york, where he served as an army medic in world war ii; he also played piano and did musical arrangements for the army band. the band musicians were given passes on weekends if there were no military engagements for them and were allowed to pick up jobs during this time. perito remained in new york after world war ii, entering the juilliard school of music and graduating from the college in 1949.