World War II Honoree

Thorburn Parker, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Portsmouth, Virginia

Honored By

Thorburn Parker, Sr.

Relationship

Self

SERVED IN EUROPEAN THEATERS OF OPERATION; 76TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 417TH REGIMENT. FIRST COMBAT: CROSSING THE SAUER RIVER IN ASSAULT BOATS FROM LUXEMBOURG INTO GERMANY. THE GERMAN SHORE WAS FORTIFIED BY THE SEIGFRIED LINE; A LINE OF PILL BOXES ABOUT 30 YARDS APART DUG INTO THE SIDE OF THE HILL. THEY WERE ABLE TO OVER RUN AND SECURE THE AREA IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS OF FIERCE COMBAT (131 PILLBOXES AND OVER 100 FORTIFIED POSITIONS WERE TAKEN). MANY OTHER BATTLES WERE FOUGHT AS THEY CROSSED GERMANY. AFTER CROSSING THE RHINE RIVER THE BATTLE EVOLVED INTO A CHASE OF THE GERMANS; THEY OFFERED LITTLE RESISTANCE FROM THAT TIME ON. UPON REACHING THE CZECHOSLOVAKIA BORDER, THEY 'DUG IN' TO AWAIT THE END OF THE WAR. HE REMAINED IN GERMANY ONE YEAR AFTER THE END OF COMBAT.