World War II Honoree

Harley Parker

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Wills Point, Texas

Honored By

Donna Parker

Relationship

Daughter

ON 23 NOVEMBER 1942 AT THE FEDERAL BUILDING IN DALLAS, TEXAS, HE ENLISTED IN THE U.S. NAVY. HE TRAVELED TO THE NAVAL TRAINING STATION, GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS AND COMPLETED 12 WEEKS OF NAVY RECRUIT TRAINING. UPON GRADUATION, HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI AND ASSIGNED TO THE NAVAL ARMED GUARD TRAINING CENTER. AT GULFPORT, HE WAS PROMOTED FROM SEAMAN TO PETTY OFFICER 3RD CLASS AND QUALIFIED AS A GUN CAPTAIN OF A 10-MAN CREW, TRAINED TO FIRE A FIVE INCH, .38 CALIBER ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN USED ABOARD NAVY SHIPS OF THAT PERIOD. THIS TRAINING LASTED APPROXIMATELY 12 WEEKS AND FOLLOWING THIS, HE WAS PROMOTED TO PETTY OFFICER 2ND CLASS. DUE TO HIS PRIOR CIVILIAN JOB AS A BUTCHER, HE WAS SELECTED TO SERVE IN SHIP’S COMPANY AT GULFPORT TRAINING CENTER, SERVING MEALS TO MORE THAN 1000 MEN EACH DAY. IN 1944 AND AFTER 23 MONTHS AT GULFPORT, HE LEFT MISSISSIPPI BOUND FOR HAWAII AND ARRIVED ON THE ISLAND OF OAHU. IN EARLY 1945, HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO MAUI WHERE HE SERVED ON A 2-MAN WATCH, SHIP’S COMPANY GALLEY, WHERE HE WAS PROMOTED TO PETTY OFFICER 1ST CLASS. IN LATE 1945, AFTER THE SURRENDER OF JAPAN AND THE OFFICIAL END OF WWII, THE NAVY OFFERED HIM A PROMOTION TO CHIEF PETTY OFFICER IF HE WOULD REMAIN ON ACTIVE DUTY FOR AN ADDITIONAL 90 DAYS. HOWEVER, HE CHOSE TO RETURN HOME TO PROVIDE FOR HIS FAMILY, AND ON 8 DECEMBER 1945, HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN NORMAN, OKLAHOMA AS SHIPS COOK 1ST CLASS. HE WAS AWARDED THE FOLLOWING MILITARY DECORATIONS IN RECOGNITION OF HIS FAITHFUL AND HONORABLE SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY DURING WWII: THE NAVY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON, HONORABLE DISCHARGE BUTTON NICKNAMED THE 'RUPTURED DUCK'.