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Monday, August 5, 2019

Lt. Sam Parker, Highly Decorated Local Soldier, Returns Home, Aug. 5, 1919

From The Monroe Journal, Aug. 5, 1919

Lieut. Parker, Cited Twice, Awarded Distinguished Service Medal, Gets Home…Captured German Machine Gunner Single-Handed, also Braved Enemy Fire to Kill Another Machine Gunner

Lieut. Sam Parker, wearing three service stripes, two wound stripes, a distinguished service medal and a service bar with four bronze stars representing four major engagements, and two silver stars, arrived home yesterday after nearly two years’ service overseas.

The distinguished service medal was awarded to him by General Pershing, while the two citations were made by his divisional commander. Mr. Parker went over with the rank of Second Lieutenant, but comes home with the silver bar insignia of a First Lieutenant.

Lieut. Parker is very modest over his wonderful record, and reluctantly gave The Journal reporter an account of his service overseas. He won his first citation in the Chateau-Thierry and Soissons engagement, and it reads: “Lt. Sam Parker is cited for conspicuous bravery for closing a gap between his line and that of the French. He took charge and commanded a disorganized group of French and led them in an attack on a strong point, taking it by storm.” In this engagement a French regiment was on the left flank of Lieut. Parker’s regiment, the 28th Infantry. During the fight the French directly on the left, after losing their officers, became disorganized, and left a huge gap between the American and the French troops. Lieut. Parker, sensing the danger to the Allied line, immediately assumed command of the French, and with a few Americans captured a strong position directly in front of them. This was on July 18, 1918.

The next day the engagement continued. Soon after the “zero” hour practically all of the officers of the battalion were killed or wounded and Lieut. Parker found himself in command of 750 men. Under his direction the battalion gained its objective, which was the heights of a neighboring town.

During the first days of the fighting in October in the Argonne sector, Lieut. Parker received his second citation for his “great spirit and courage,” so it reads, “were most stimulating to his men. In conjunction with another officer working with two squads he successfully repulsed a strong German counter-attack and, single-handed, captured a German machine gunner.”

It was a few days later when he won the highest honor possible to any American—the distinguished service medal, awarded by General Pershing. The citation, after announcing the award of the medal, is as follows:

“Lieut. Parker, with total disregard for his own personal danger, advanced on a machine gun, 150 yards away, while the enemy were firing directly at him, and killed the gunner with his pistol. In the town of Exermount his platoon was almost surrounded after having taken several prisoners and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, but despite the fact that only a few men of his platoon were left, continued to fight until other troops came to their aid.”

Lieut. Parker sailed from New York September 8, 1917. The trip across was without incident until the convoy neared Liver pool, where they received wireless intelligence of the presence of hostile submarines in the vicinity. The convoy split up immediately, part going to Liverpool and part to another port. Only a day spent in England, the Americans leaving for La Havre, France, via the English channel, as soon as possible.

On arrival at La Havre, Lieut. Parker was attached to the fifth British army for intensive training. He remained with the British for six weeks, during which time he was in the trenches for two weeks near Cambrai with a London regiment. He did some patrol work on one occasion, gaining information of the enemy’s location that was of material advantage to the British when the Germans staged later attacks around Cambrai.

On Nov. 11, 1917, one year exactly prior to the signing of the armistice, Lieut. Parker was attached to the 28th infantry of the 28th division. From this date until Jan. 1, 1918, his regiment remained in training in the Vosges district.

Following the passing of the new year, the 28th went into the trenches near Toul, a “quiet sector” made active by the Americans. In this sector the 28th participated in the first stand made by the Americans against the Germans.

From the Toul sector the 28th went to Amiens, where it helped stop the German offensive of March 26. It also took part in the stand made by the allies at Montdidier, and later in the first American offensive which was directed from this point with capture of Cantigny as its objective. Cantigny, as everyone knows, capitulated. It was here that Lieut. Parker received his first wound, which was in the arm. A week or 10 days later he was again in action, but was wounded again, this time in the thigh and foot.

Lieut. Parker is a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. J.D. Parker, and is a brother of Mr. J.J. Parker. A few days prior to his entrance into the service he graduated from the University. Mr. Parker has made an enviable record—one which every American should envy, and one which his townsmen should feel a just pride in.

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