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| Cpl. Laverne Parrish was a medic assigned to the 25th Infantry Division in the Philippines. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7675400/laverne-parrish http://www.ww2online.org/image/wounded-25th-division-soldier-helped-aid-station-philippines-1945 |
Laverne Parish never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on July 16, 1918 in Missouri. His parents Clatious and Wealthy (what names!) were born in Missouri and Kansas, respectively. His father worked as a farmer, first in Missouri and then in Montana by the mid-1930s. Lavern had two older brothers and one younger brother. By 1940 Laverne had completed eight years of schooling and was living as a laborer.
He was drafted into the army on March 4, 1941. He became a T/4 medic assigned to 161st Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division (nicknamed "Tropic Lightning"). The 25th ID was in Hawaii when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. In November 1942 it relieved the Marines fighting on Guadalcanal. In September 1943 it captured Vella Lavella. It landed on Luzon on January 11, 1945. Cpl. Parrish's time in service was early enough that he could have participated in all these actions.
Over the next two weeks Cpl. Parrish repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to treat and rescue many wounded soldiers. His unselfish actions cost him his life, for which he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
His Medal of Honor citation reads as follows:
On the 18th, he observed 2 wounded men under enemy fire and immediately went to their rescue. After moving 1 to cover, he crossed 25 yards of open ground to administer aid to the second.
In the early hours of the 24th, his company, crossing an open field near San Manuel, encountered intense enemy fire and was ordered to withdraw to the cover of a ditch. While treating the casualties, Technician Parrish observed 2 wounded still in the field. Without hesitation he left the ditch, crawled forward under enemy fire, and in 2 successive trips brought both men to safety. He next administered aid to 12 casualties in the same field, crossing and re-crossing the open area raked by hostile fire. Making successive trips, he then brought 3 wounded in to cover. After treating nearly all of the 37 casualties suffered by his company, he was mortally wounded by mortar fire, and shortly after was killed.
The indomitable spirit, intrepidity, and gallantry of Technician Parrish saved many lives at the cost of his own.
Thank you Cpl. Parrish for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Laverne.
Last year on this date I profiled B-26 tail gunner Wetzel Kimball. You can read about Wetzel here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
His grave is at Ronan Cemetery in Ronan, Montana.
Last year on this date I profiled B-26 tail gunner Wetzel Kimball. You can read about Wetzel here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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