World War II Honoree

Amos Lester Parham, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Elberton, Georgia

Honored By

Connie Parham Mosley

Relationship

Daughter

SERVED ABOARD USS WALLER SS-437, A DESTROYER, HULL #DD-466 SERVING IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER. THE WALLER EARNED 12 BATTLE STARS FROM WWII. ENLISTED JULY 29, 1942 AT MACON, GEORGIA AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED JUNE 7, 1945 FROM THE NAVAL HOSPITAL IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA. SERVED ABOARD THE WALLER FOR THE BATTLE OF THE MARIANA ISLANDS OF SAIPAN ON JUNE 15, 1944, TINIAN IN JULY OF 1944, AND THE BATTLE OF GUAM. HE AND HIS DESTROYER WERE AT RENNELL ISLAND JANUARY 29 UNTIL 30TH,1943 WHERE THE SHIP WAS STRAFED. SERVED AS A GUNNER IN THE TURRETS. HE MOST OFTEN MENTIONED THE CAMPAIGN FOR GUADALCANAL WHICH WAS THE TURNING POINT FOR THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC. THE WALLER JOINED THE 7TH FLEET ON NOVEMBER 27, 1944 IN THE BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF TO TAKE THE PHILIPPINES. NOT SURE WHICH BATTLE LANDED AN EXPLOSION THAT BURST ONE EARDRUM, BUT HE REMAINED DEAF IN IT THE REST OF HIS LIFE. HE WAS SENT TO THE NAVY HOSPITAL AT PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII FOR TREATMENT AND WAS RELEASED FROM THE NAVAL HOSPITAL IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA. HE HAD SERVED 2 YEARS, 4 MONTHS, AND 21 DAYS.