World War II Honoree

Alexis 'Lex' Craven Parrish

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Birmingham, Alabama

Honored By

Carolyn

Relationship

Wife

ENLISTED OCTOBER 1943 IN THE U.S. MARINE CORPS. TRAINED IN AVIATION ORDNANCE, AIR GUNNERY AND COMBAT AIR CREW FUNCTIONS. SERVED WITH MARINE BOMBER SQUADRON 612 OPERATING FROM IWO JIMA AND LATER FROM OKINAWA. SQUADRON CONDUCTED AERIAL OPERATIONS AGAINST JAPANESE SHIPPING IN AND AROUND THE JAPANESE HOME ISLANDS. ASSIGNED ADDITIONAL DUTIES AS THE SQUADRON GROUND DEFENSE NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER AND PROMOTED TO CORPORAL. SQUADRON 612 OPERATED NORTH AMERICAN PBJ (B-25) BOMBERS. NOVEMBER 1945, TRANSFERRED TO HEADQUARTERS SQUADRON, 4TH MARINE AIRCRAFT WING, YOKOSUKA, JAPAN AS PART OF THE OCCUPATION FORCE. ASSIGNED TO NAVAL BASE BOAT POOL WITH RESPONSIBILITIES FOR SUPPORTING SENIOR OFFICERS' LAUNCH. RECEIVED ACCELERATED PROMOTION TO THE RANK OF SERGEANT FOR A LIFE SAVING ACT. AWARDED U.S. NAVY AND U.S. MARINE CORPS COMBAT AIRCREW BADGE, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH TWO BRONZE BATTLE STARS, NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE MEDAL WITH FOREIGN SERVICE (JAPAN) CLASP, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND NAVAL UNIT CITATION. HONORABLY DISCHARGED MAY 1946.