World War II Honoree

John Edward Parrott

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Springfield, Kentucky

Honored By

Nancy Elizabeth O'Bryan

Relationship

Sister

HE WAS BORN MAY 25, 1920 IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, KENTUCKY. AFTER GRADUATING FROM SPRINGFIELD HIGH SCHOOL IN 1938, HE JOINED THE LOCAL NATIONAL GUARD, BATTERY C, 106TH ANTI-AIRCRAFT UNIT. THEY LEFT FOR CAMP HULEN, TEXAS JANUARY 1941. HE FIRST EXPERIENCED COMBAT IN NORTH AFRICA. SHORTLY AFTER THE ALLIED INVASION OF NORTH AFRICA ON NOVEMBER 8, 1942 HIS UNIT TOOK A TERRIBLE POUNDING IN STUKA VALLEY. THEY RETURNED FIRE FOR 2 WEEKS. BY SEPTEMBER 9, 1943 HE LANDED AT SALERNO, ITALY AND ON SEPTEMBER 14, 1943 HE WAS KILLED ALONG WITH 2 OTHERS BY FRIENDLY FIRE FROM A PLANE THAT SPIT OUT 2 TRACKS OF BULLETS. HE WAS OFF DUTY AND ATTEMPTING TO SEEK COVER. HIS BODY WAS RETURNED HOME AFTER THE WAR.