Edwin P. Parker Jr.
Edwin Pearson Parker Jr. | |
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Born | Wytheville, Virginia, United States | July 27, 1891
Died | June 7, 1983 Washington, D.C., United States | (aged 91)
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | ![]() |
Years of service | 1912–1953 |
Rank | ![]() |
Service number | 0-3457 |
Unit | ![]() |
Commands held | Provost Marshal General XXIII Corps 78th Infantry Division 2nd Battalion, 83rd Field Artillery Regiment |
Battles/wars | Pancho Villa Expedition World War I World War II |
Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Legion of Merit Bronze Star (2) |
Edwin Pearson Parker Jr. (July 27, 1891 – June 7, 1983) was a senior officer in the United States Army. Parker commanded the 78th Infantry Division during the Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland, and Central Europe, campaigns of World War II.[1][2] Under his command, the division, nicknamed "Lightning,"[3] helped secure the Ludendorff Bridge during the Battle of Remagen.[4][5]
Following the war, Parker commanded XXIII Corps during the occupation duties in Germany and completed his career as U.S. Army Provost Marshal General from 1948 to 1953.
Early career
Parker was born on July 27, 1891, in Wytheville, Virginia, as the son of Edwin Pearson Parker and Mary Lillington Hardin. He graduated from the old Western High School and subsequently attended George Washington University. Upon the graduation in summer 1912, he was commissioned in the Field Artillery Branch of the United States Army. Parker was stationed on the Mexican Border during the Pancho Villa Expedition and during World War I, he was stationed at the Panama Canal Zone and saw no service overseas.
Following the
Parker was ordered to the Army Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in May 1923 and completed the Field Artillery Officers' Advance Course one year later. Upon the completion of the course, he was sent to the course at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and graduated in June 1925.
He published many articles about field artillery innovations in
On August 1, 1935, Parker was promoted to
World War II
On June 26, 1941, Parker was promoted to the temporary rank of
Due to his previous experiences with training at the Field Artillery Training Center at Fort Bragg, Parker supervised the formation and received a special assignment from the War Department General Staff. Parker was responsible for the training and processing of combat replacements in the shortest possible time. Under his supervision, the 78th Division trained between 40,000 and 50,000 replacements, who were sent to war in both theaters and to stations all over the world.
In March 1943, Parker's division began with its own intensive combat training and he led his command during the maneuvers in South Carolina during November 1943 and Tennessee in January-February 1944. The 78th Division then conducted intensive training for several months and parts of the division participated in the restoring of order during the Philadelphia transit strike at the beginning of August 1944.
The 78th Division finally embarked for
Parker then received orders to advanced into Simmerath, Witzerath, and Bikerath and attacked the village of Kesternich on the Siegfried Line. It was a bloody baptism of fire for the inexperienced 78th division. During the seven days of fighting for the village between December 13 and 19, the 78th Infantry Division lost approximately 1,515 dead, wounded, missing and injured, according to the division's records. German losses in dead and captured, as confirmed by the 78th Infantry Division, were approximately 770, not counting wounded or missing.
The 78th held the area it had taken from the Siegfried Line against the violent German counterattacks throughout the winter. The Division commenced attack on January 30, 1945, and took Kesternich on February 2, 1945. The 78th Division advanced to the town of Schmidt, which captured on February 8, and captured intact the vital Schwammanauel Dam the next day.
Parker and his division then advanced to the
For his service during World War II, Parker received numerous decorations including the
Postwar service
Following the surrender of Germany, 78th Division conducted occupation duty in the areas of
In September 1945, Parker was appointed Commanding general,
He remained in that capacity until end of August 1947, when he was ordered back to the United States and appointed Deputy Commanding General,
While in this capacity, he was responsible for the administration of Military Police Corps and also supervised investigations and incarcerations of U.S. Army personnel. Parker regularly inspected U.S. stations all over the world and retired on February 4, 1953, after 41 years of active service.[9][5]
Retirement and death
Upon his retirement from the Army, Parker settled in Washington, D.C., and worked as the business manager of the St. Albans School for Boys from 1960 to 1970. Parker died on June 7, 1983, aged 91, of congestive heart failure at his home.
His wife, Hannah Somerville Matthews Parker (1893-1998), is buried beside him at
Decorations
Here is Major General Parker's ribbon bar:[11]
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1st Row | Army Distinguished Service Medal | Silver Star | Legion of Merit | Oak Leaf Cluster
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2nd Row | Mexican Border Service Medal | World War I Victory Medal | Army of Occupation of Germany Medal | American Defense Service Medal | ||||||||||||
3rd Row | American Campaign Medal | European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three 3/16 inch service stars
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World War II Victory Medal
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Army of Occupation Medal | ||||||||||||
4th Row | National Defense Service Medal | Officer of the Legion of Honor (France )
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French Croix de guerre 1939-1945 with Palm
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Belgian Croix de Guerre with Palm |
References
- ^ "78th Infantry Division Lineage and Honors". Archived from the original on 2016-09-01. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
- ^ "European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaigns". Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
- ^ "United States Army Center of Military History, "Special Unit Designations"". Archived from the original on 2010-06-09. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
- ^ a b "Maj. Gen. Edwin P. Parker Jr., 91, whose troops cross Rhine in 1945". The Philadelphia Inquirer. June 10, 1983. p. 58. Retrieved March 21, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Biography of Major-General Edwin P. Parker Jr. (1891 - 1983), USA". generals.dk. generals.dk Websites. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
- ^ "Catalogue of the Ohio State University for the Year (June 1920) at p. 40". 1920. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
- ^ "The Harvard University Catalogue (1922-23) at p. 33". 1922. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
- ^ "The Field Artillery Journal: January-February 1934" (PDF). generals.dk. U.S. Army Websites. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
- ^ "MG Edwin Pearson Parker, Jr". Retrieved 2017-03-16.
- ^ "Oak Hill Cemetery, Georgetown, D.C. (Chapel) - Lot 12 1/2" (PDF). oakhillcemeterydc.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-03-08. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
- ^ "Valor awards for Edwin P. Parker Jr". valor.militarytimes.com. Militarytimes Websites. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
External links
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