World War II Honoree

William Sterling 'Deak' Parsons

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

AN AMERICAN MILITARY ENGINEER WITH THE 509TH BOMB GROUP, HE WAS BEST KNOWN FOR BEING THE WEAPONEER ON THE ENOLA GAY WHICH DROPPED THE FIRST ATOMIC BOMB ON HIROSHIMA, JAPAN DURING WORLD WAR II. HE PUT EXPLOSIVE POWDER IN THE BOMB THAT WAS PART OF THE ARMING. A NAVY CAPTAIN AT THE TIME HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE ARMING OF THE ATOMIC BOMB, HE RETIRED A REAR ADMIRAL. HIS AWARDS ARE THE NAVY DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL, SILVER STAR AND THE LEGION OF MERIT.