World War II Honoree

Delmer E. Park

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Phoenix, Arizona

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: STAFF SERGEANT. SERVED AS A SIGNAL CORPS OBSERVER AND INSTRUCTOR WITH A BRITISH COMBAT UNIT IN THE LIBYAN DESERT. HE WAS KILLED BY GERMANY MACHINE-GUN FIRE NEAR SIDI OMAR, LIBYA, ON NOVEMBER 27, 1941 WHILE OBSERVING MILITARY OPERATIONS IN THE WESTERN DESERT. HIS DEATH OCCURRED TEN DAYS BEFORE THE UNITED STATES HAD ENTERED WWII AND WAS THE FIRST BATTLE CASUALTY IN THE MIDDLE EAST. HE WAS INTERRED IN THE BRITISH MILITARY CEMETERY, HELIOPOLIS, EGYPT AND AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY, FOR BURIAL IN THE GREENWOOD MEMORIAL PARK CEMETERY, PHOENIX, ARIZONA. A PLAQUE IN MEMORY OF THE SOLDIER WAS ERECTED AT FORT MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY BY THE U.S. SIGNAL CORPS.