World War II Honoree

Warren Louis Parish

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Memphis, Tennessee

Honored By

Stephen Parish

Relationship

Son

HE ENLISTED IN THE ARMY IN FEBRUARY OF 1943 IN FT. OGLETHORPE, GEORGIA. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 20TH ARMORED DIVISION, WHICH FORMED AND TRAINED AT CAMP CAMPBELL, KENTUCKY. HE SERVED IN THE DIVISION’S COMBAT COMMAND B, 20TH TANK BATTALION, COMPANY A, 3RD PLATOON. THE DIVISION SHIPPED OUT OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS IN FEBRUARY OF 1945 AND LANDED AT LE HAVRE, FRANCE. IN FRANCE, BELGIUM AND GERMANY, HE SERVED CHIEFLY AS THE RADIOMAN ON A TANK CREW, SOMETIMES ALSO PERFORMING AS GUNNER AND ACTING COMMANDER. HE WAS A MEMBER OF TASK FORCE 20, A GROUP THAT RECEIVED A UNIT CITATION FOR THEIR BRAVERY IN WHAT WAS ESSENTIALLY THEIR FIRST MAJOR ENGAGEMENT, THE BLOODY PITCHED BATTLE IN LATE APRIL OF 1945 FOR THE GERMAN SS TRAINING CENTER AT MUNICH, GERMANY. AFTER THE GERMAN SURRENDER A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE 20TH ARMORED DIVISION RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES. HE WAS BRIEFLY ASSIGNED TO DUTY IN CALIFORNIA BEFORE BEING HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND RETURNING TO CIVILIAN LIFE IN MEMPHIS.