World War II Honoree

Earl L. Parker

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Bedford, Virginia

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: STAFF SERGEANT. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD, WHO WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY FEBRUARY 3, 1941 AT BEDFORD, VIRGINIA. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO ABLE COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 116TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 29TH INFANTRY ‘BLUE AND GRAY’ DIVISION ATTACHED TO THE U.S. 1ST ARMY. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE VAST ARMADA THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, OPERATION OVERLORD. HIS REGIMENT WAS GIVEN THE OBJECTIVE TO SPEARHEAD THE D-DAY INITIAL ASSAULT AGAINST OMAHA BEACH ON THE FRENCH COAST, GOING ASHORE WITH THE 1ST WAVE, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944 AT 06:30 HOURS. HE BECAME A BATTLE CASUALTY ON THE DAY OF THE INVASION AND WAS REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION OR BURIED AT SEA THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1945. THE SOLDIER IS MEMORIALIZED AT THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: BRONZE STAR AND THE PURPLE HEART. THE BRONZE STAR WAS AWARDED TO THE SERGEANT FOR BRAVERY, ACT OF MERIT AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE. HIS REGIMENT WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXCEPTIONAL VALOR AND HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES ON OMAHA BEACH.