World War II Honoree

Dewey L. Parker

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Brinkman, Greer County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

Relationship

Relationship Not Determined

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE SHORTLY AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL. SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER INITIALLY, AND THEN OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER, WITH THE 96TH INFANTRY 'DEADEYE' DIVISION, ASSIGNED TO THE TENTH ARMY. PARTICIPATED IN THE LEYTE AND RYUKYUS CAMPIGNS. HIS DIVISION ASSAULTED LEYTE IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ON OCTOBER 20, 1944, AND FOUGHT THERE UNTIL ABOUT MARCH 27, 1945. HIS DIVISION ASSAULTED OKINAWA ISLAND IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS ON APRIL 1, 1945, LANDING AGAINST LIGHT RESISTANCE, AND FOUGHT THERE UNTIL THE ISLAND WAS SECURED ON JUNE 22, 1945. DEPARTED OKINAWA ON JULY 22, 1944, AND ARRIVED AT MINDORO IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ON AUGUST 1, 1945. THE DIVISION WAS STATIONED AT MINDORO ON AUGUST 14, 1945, THE DAY THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED THE UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER TERMS. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS (2 CAMPAIGNS), AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS DIVISION IN COMBAT. ALSO AUTHORIZED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS BETWEEN OCTOBER 17, 1944 AND SEPTEMBER 3, 1945. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1946, AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.