World War II Honoree

J. Edgar Parker

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Honored By

Michael F. Parker

Relationship

Son

JOINED THE US MARINE CORPS ON AUGUST 6, 1943. HE COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING ON PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA AND WAS SELECTED FOR THE FIELD MUSIC SCHOOL. IN AUGUST 1944 HE BECAME A COMPANY BUGLER AT CAMP PENDLETON MARINE BASE, SAN DIEGO. FROM SEPTEMBER 1944 UNTIL MARCH 1945 HE TRAINED ON GUADALCANAL IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS UNDER THE COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL LEMUEL SHEPARD. THERE HE BECAME A MEMBER OF THE LEGENDARY SIXTH MARINE DIVISION. ARRIVING ON THE ISLAND OF OKINAWA ON EASTER SUNDAY, ALSO APRIL FOOL’S DAY ON APRIL 1, 1945, HE FOUGHT IN THE LARGEST AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT DURING THE WWII PACIFIC CAMPAIGN WITH THE 29TH MARINES, SIXTH DIVISION UNDER THE COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL ROY GEIGER. THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA, CODENAMED OPERATION ICEBERG WAS ALSO REFERRED TO AS A “TYPHOON OF STEEL”. SLEEPING IN CAVE TOMBS AMONG THE DEAD IN ORDER TO SURVIVE, HE ENDURED SOME OF THE FIERCEST FIGHTING IN WWII TO CLEAR THE MOTOBU PENINSULA AND ULTIMATELY CAPTURE SUGAR LOAF HILL ALONG THE SHURI LINE. HE REMAINED THERE THROUGH JULY 10, 1945. THE SIXTH MARINE DIVISION WAS UNIQUELY FORMED TO FIGHT IN THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA AND NEVER REACTIVATED AFTER WWII. HIS COMPANY MOVED TO GUAM TO REFORM AND TRAIN FOR THE ASSAULT ON JAPAN. IN SEPTEMBER OF 1945 HE WITNESSED THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE JAPANESE SURRENDER TO CHAING KAI-SHEK IN TSINGTAO, CHINA. AFTER A BRIEF STAY IN PEKING, HIS COMPANY LANDED NORTH OF TOYKO IN FEBRUARY OF 1946. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN APRIL 1946.