World War II Honoree

John M. Parnell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Pasadena, California

Honored By

Betty Y. Parnell

Relationship

Wife

STAFF SERGEANT; SERVED IN THE 3048TH QUARTERMASTER GRAVES REGISTRATION COMPANY FROM THE UNIT'S ACTIVATION IN JULY 1944. PREFORMED DUTIES IN PREPARATION AND SERVING OF FOOD TO MILITARY PERSONNEL, BOTH IN GARRISON AND FIELD KITCHENS, IN THE CONTINENTAL U.S., ENGLAND, FRANCE, LUXEMBOURG AND GERMANY. ATTACHED TO VARIOUS UNITS AND WAS ON DETACHED SERVICE WITH QUARTERMASTER UNIT IN ENGLAND FOR LAST YEAR OF SERVICE. HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIELD KITCHEN UNIT, MOVING IT AND KEEPING IT PROTECTED FROM ENEMY FIRE AND SERVED TROOPS OUT IN THE FIELD. AWARDED A CERTIFICATE OF MERIT FOR PERFORMING MERITORIOUS SERVICE IN CONNECTION WITH MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST AN ENEMY OF THE U.S. AND BECAUSE OF HIS UNCEASING EFFORTS, WASTAGE AND LOSS OF FOOD WAS ALWAYS KEPT AT AN ABSOLUTE MINIMUM IN HIS UNIT, AND THROUGH HIS CAREFUL APPLICATIONS OF HIS CULINARY KNOWLEDGE, HIS UNIT EXPERIENCED LITTLE MONOTONY IN FOOD. HE SERVED WITH THE 3RD ARMY FOR A PERIOD OF NINE MONTHS.