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Contact Info
Home Town Avalon, PA
Last Address Pompano Beach, FL
Date of Passing Oct 15, 1989
Location of Interment U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery and Columbarium (VLM) - Annapolis, Maryland
Wall/Plot Coordinates Unknown
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
US Navy Vice Admiral. Parker graduated from the United States Naval Academy in
1925. By the time the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Parker was a Lt. Commander,
the Commanding Officer of the Parrott a World War I class destroyer that was
part of the Asian Fleet. While Commander of the Parrott, Parker was awarded the
Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism and for extreme disregard of personal
safety when his command delivered a determined attack with torpedoes and gunfire
during action with the enemy on the night of January 24th to the 25th, 1942. The
following month he also engaged the enemy in the Badoeng Straits off the Island
of Ball, Netherlands, East Indies and was awarded a second Navy Cross for
distinguished service and heroism in a fierce battle with the Japanese. In
addition to the Navy Cross for the battle of the 24th and 25th Parker received
the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commander Destroyer
Division Fifty nine. He received a third Navy Cross for leadership of Destroyer
Division Fifteen aboard the Destroyer USS Cushing during an engagement with the
Japanese naval forces near Savo Island on the night of November 12, 1942. The
force to which he was attached engaged at close quarters and defeated a superior
enemy force. From November of 1945 to April of 1946 he commanded a destroyer
squadron and participated in the Allied occupation of both Korea and North
China. Later that year he was an observer and commander at Bikini Atoll during
Operation Crossroads, which was designed to test the effectiveness of atomic
weapons on naval vessels. By 1947 he was now a captain and after commanding the
Newport News, he was named deputy chief of the Atomic Support Agency. In 1952
Parker was promoted to Rear Admiral and in 1960 promoted to Vice Admiral and was
appointed the deputy director of the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff at
Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. In 1962 he was named assistant director of
the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency which advises the President and the
Secretary of State on arms control policy. He held that post until 1963 when he
retired. After retirement Parker and his wife spent much of their time sailing
and he was chosen the commodore of the Lighthouse Point Yacht Club in Pompano
Beach, Florida.
