World War II Honoree

Stephen J. Parker

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Monroe County, New York

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE NEW YORK ARMY NATIONAL GUARD, WHO WAS INDUCTED INTO FEDERAL SERVICE FEBRUARY 10, 1941 AT ROCHESTER, NEW YORK. AFTER COMPLETION OF PARATROOPER TRAINING, HE SERVED IN EUROPE WITH REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS, 2ND BATTALION, 507TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 17TH AIRBORNE ‘GOLDEN TALONS’ DIVISION. KILLED IN ACTION SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1945 DURING OPERATION VARSITY, THE LAST FULL SCALE AIRBORNE DROP OF WORLD WAR II. HE DIED IN THE VICINITY OF WESEL, GERMANY AND WAS INTERRED IN A BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY, FOR BURIAL IN THE JEFFERSON BARRACKS NATIONAL CEMETERY, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.