World War II Honoree

Charles F. Parker, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Falmouth, Massachusetts

Honored By

Dave Brewer

ENLISTED IN THE U.S. ARMY IN 1941. ASSIGNED TO THE 26TH DIVISION, 101ST INFANTRY REGIMENT. HE PARTICIPATED IN THREE CAMPAIGNS IN EUROPE, RECEIVING THREE BRONZE BATTLE STARS FOR HIS EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL. IN 1944 WHILE SERVING IN FRANCE, HE ATTACKED A FARM HOUSE OCCUPIED BY GERMAN TROOPS. RUNNING SOME 150 YARDS, HE ASSAULTED THE FARM HOUSE, CAPTURING 19 GERMAN SOLDIERS, DESTROYING THEIR ASSAULT WEAPONS, AND THEREBY SEVERING THE GERMAN SUPPLY ROUTE. FOR HIS ACTIONS THAT DAY, HE WAS AWARDED THE SILVER STAR. IN LATER COMBAT HE WAS WOUNDED IN THE CHEST, AND LAY IN A DITCH FOR ALMOST A DAY BEFORE HIS COMRADES COULD GET TO HIM TO RENDER FIRST AID. THE BULLET NARROWLY MISSED HIS HEART, AND HE CARRIED A PIECE OF THAT SHRAPNEL IN HIS CHEST FOR THE REMAINDER OF HIS LIFE. HE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY PRESENTED WITH A PURPLE HEART. HE SERVED IN EUROPE UNTIL HIS DISCHARGE IN 1945. HE RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING AWARDS FOR HIS SERVICE: SILVER STAR, PURPLE HEART, BRONZE STAR, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION RIBBON WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER (SECOND AWARD), OCCUPATION MEDAL, AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.