World War II Honoree

Wayne Parker

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

William E. Shaklee

Relationship

Friend

HE JOINED THE US NAVAL RESERVE IN FEBRUARY 1942 WITH A DIRECT COMMISSION AS LIEUTENANT, JUNIOR GRADE, AN ENGINEERING SPECIALIST. HE REPORTED TO THE TODD SHIPYARD IN GALVESTON, TEXAS, IN MARCH WHERE HE ASSISTED IN THE REPAIR AND ARMING OF MERCHANT SHIPS. IN OCTOBER HE REPORTED FOR INDOCTRINATION SCHOOL AT PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, THEN WAS ASSIGNED TO THE DESTROYER USS RINGGOLD THAT WAS BEING OUTFITTED IN THE BROOKLYN NAVY YARD. AFTER SHAKEDOWN THEY OPERATED IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC AND EUROPEAN THEATER UNTIL JULY 1943 WHEN THEY REPORTED TO THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF US PACIFIC FLEET AT PEARL HARBOR. THEIR FIRST ACTION IN THE PACIFIC WAS OPERATING WITH A FAST AIRCRAFT CARRIER TASK FORCE FOR THE BOMBING OF MARCUS ISLAND. THEY ALSO BOMBARDED WAKE ISLAND. THEN FOLLOWED A LONG LIST OF ASSAULTS AND LANDINGS ON JAPANESE HELD ISLANDS FOR ALMOST 24 MONTHS. HE RECEIVED THE NAVY CROSS AFTER THE ACTION AT TARAWA. AFTER HAVING STEAMED MORE THAT 200,000 MILES HIS SHIP WAS ORDERED TO SAN FRANCISCO FOR OVERHAUL. HE WAS RELIEVED AS ENGINEERING OFFICER OF THE RINGGOLD AND ASSIGNED AS EXECUTIVE OFFICER TO ANOTHER DESTROYER, THE USS HARRY E. HUBBARD. AFTER THE CEASE-FIRE THEY WERE SENT TO MANCHURIA WITH THE MISSION TO EVACUATE GENERAL WAINWRIGHT AND THE SURVIVING PRISONERS OF WAR FROM THE PHILIPPINES DEATH MARCH.