World War II Honoree

Samuel Merlin Parker

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Grand Junction, Colorado

Honored By

Ms. Tammy L. Parker

Relationship

Daughter

SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE 2ND BATTALION, 45TH DIVISION, 157TH INFANTRY, H COMPANY, THUNDERBIRDS. WAS STATIONED IN THE AFRICAN AND EUROPEAN THEATERS. FOUGHT THROUGH SOME OF THE WAR'S BLOODIEST BATTLES, INCLUDING THE ATTEMPT TO TAKE THE MONTE CASSINO MONASTERY IN ITALY, AND THE BATTLE OF THE CAVES AT ANZIO. WAS CAPTURED BY THE AXIS IN EARLY 1944 AT ANZIO, BECAUSE THE BRITISH 8TH ARMY MISTAKENLY STARTED FIRING ON COMPANY H, TRAPPING HIM AND SOME 250 OTHER U.S. SOLDIERS. HE THEN SPENT 15 MONTHS IN VARIOUS AXIS STALAG ACROSS GERMANY AND POLAND, BEFORE BEING LIBERATED BY THE RUSSIANS IN APRIL AND MAY 1945. HE AND A HANDFUL OF OTHER PRISONERS OF WAR WALKED FROM THEIR CAMP ALONG THE GERMAN AND POLAND BORDER, UNTIL THEY REACHED THE AMERICAN LINES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RHINE RIVER. IN LATE MAY 1945, WAS TRANSPORTED VIA A TROOP SHIP TO NEW YORK, WHERE HE WAS OFFICIALLY REPATRIATED AT CAMP KILMER IN NEW JERSEY.