World War II Honoree

Herbert J. Parker

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Jonesboro, Arkansas

Honored By

Family

PILOTED C-47 AIRCRAFT AND COMMANDED CREW ON 352 COMBAT MISSIONS (740 COMBAT HOURS) CARRYING MILITARY PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT IN SUPPORT OF OFFENSIVES IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA. DURING HIS SERVICE HE WAS ASSISTANT OPERATIONS OFFICER OF SQUADRON FOR SIX MONTHS, FLIGHT COMMANDER FOR THREE MONTHS AND SQUADRON LIAISON OFFICER FOR TWO MONTHS. HIS TOTAL PILOT TIME WAS 1904 HOURS. DURING HIS ACTIVE SERVICE, HE WAS EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE 65TH TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON, 5TH AND 13TH AIR FORCES, IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA. HE WAS SECOND IN COMMAND OF UNIT AND RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS ADMINISTRATION, TRAINING AND TACTICAL EMPLOYMENT. ENTERED SERVICE FROM ROTC AS A SECOND LIEUTENANT MARCH 9, 1942 AND HIS DATE OF SEPARATION WAS AUGUST 31, 1945. DURING HIS ACTIVE SERVICE, HE RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS WITH TWO OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, AIR MEDAL REPRESENTING FIVE ADDITIONAL OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON AND THE PACIFIC THEATRE RIBBON.