Chillicothe, Ross County, and the European Theater of WWII — Possibly the last Ross County veteran of World War II celebrated his 104th birthday Thursday with about 100 friends and family.
Robert Leslie Parker received well wishes and honors at the Golden Corral smorgasbord on Bridge Street. He now lives in Pike County, but is a native of Huntington Township. Born in 1920, Parker outlasted the crowd after almost two hours.
Retired U.S. Army Ranger Lt. Col. Bob Leach, a leader in local veterans activities and a local military historian, helped research Parker’s service. He said Parker was part of an experimental secret tank battalion trained for night attacks with searchlights, called “The Gizmo.”
He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for gallantry in combat when Sergeant Parker’s tank was in the lead in an attack and its guns jammed. Parker saw a bazooka team about to fire on the defenseless tank, so he flung open the hatch, exposing himself to bazooka and sniper fire, and eliminated the enemy team with his rifle.
Presentations and proclamations were given by Ohio Representative Mark Johnson, Congressman Brad Wenstrup, U.S. Senator J.D. Vance, and Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney.
I was given the text of two presentations which explain Parker’s service – and the event provided plenty of video footage, so watch it all for the full story!
Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney’s Proclamation:
Honoring The 104th Birthday of Robert Leslie Parker
WHEREAS Robert Leslie Parker was born to Francis Gilbert and Elizabeth Jane Burton Parker in Ross County, Ohio, on July 25, 1920; and
WHEREAS Robert had three older brothers, Sheldon, Harry, and William, but only Robert and William were still living when the United States entered World War II; and
WHEREAS Robert found employment with the Norfolk & Western Railway prior to World War II; and
WHEREAS Robert met Virginia Lucille Bethel and married her in Pike County on December 24, 1941, which was her parents’ 23rd Anniversary; and
WHEREAS Robert was inducted into the United States Army by the Ross County Draft Board on January 20, 1943, and assigned to Company A, 736th Tank Battalion (Special), a secret armor unit trained for night attacks with searchlight-equipped tanks called “The Gizmo”; and
WHEREAS Corporal Robert Leslie Parker trained at Camp Rucker, Alabama, Ft. Knox, Kentucky, and Phoenix, Arizona prior to deploying to Europe; and
WHEREAS Sergeant Robert Leslie Parker spent eighteen months in the European Theater of Operations and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for gallantry in combat in the attack on Horn, Germany, on April 4, 1945; and
WHEREAS Sergeant Parker additionally earned the Presidential Unit Citation, the Good Conduct Medal, and the European Campaign Medal with four battle stars; and
WHEREAS Sergeant Parker had been transferred to Company B, 737th Amphibian Tractor Battalion, and was awaiting shipment to the Pacific for the invasion of Japan when the war ended, allowing for his discharge at Fort Ord, California, on October 14, 1945; and
WHEREAS Robert Leslie Parker fathered two daughters, Jeannine (Delmar) Burkitt and Jennifer (Donald) Aquino and is the grandfather of Nathan Burkitt, Amelia Burkitt, Adam Aquino, and Emily Aquino; and
WHEREAS Robert Leslie Parker was a stalwart of local industry as he worked for 38 years at the Mead Corporation; and
WHEREAS, the City of Chillicothe wishes, on the occasion 104th birthday, to honor Robert Leslie Parker as an exemplary citizen of our community,
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the City of Chillicothe hereby honors Robert Leslie Parker as the epitome of service to the community and designates Thursday, July 25, 2024, as Robert Leslie Parker Day.
Duly adopted this, the 25th day of July, 2024.
The presentation by Retired U.S. Army Ranger Lt. Col. Bob Leach:
I am going to re-create the announcement of the citation for the Bronze Star earned by Sergeant Robert L. Parker.
During wartime, awards are normally presented when the unit withdraws to a secure area, and sometimes even after the end of the war. All the soldiers are in formation, and the unit adjutant states “Attention to Orders,” prior to reading the citation.
In the peacetime military, sometimes awards are presented in the presence of families and other guests at ceremonies which are sometimes held before or after a meal. On those occasions, when the command “Attention to Orders” is given, all military personnel and veterans stand as able, and those without military service are asked to remain seated or standing where they are located.
When I asked a protocol officer from the Chicago area if it would be appropriate for 104-year-old Mr. Parker to sit or stand during this re-creation, the protocol officer replied, with emphasis, that Mr. Parker should be encouraged to do, “Whatever he wanted to do.”
Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in this re-creation.
ATTENTION TO ORDERS:
Headquarters, 83rd Infantry Division, APO # 83, United States Army. Award of the Bronze Star. Citation:
Sergeant Robert L. Parker, 35624530, Armor, United States Army, for distinguishing himself by heroic achievement in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States on April 4, 1945, in Germany.
During the attack on Horn, Sergeant Parker’s tank was leading the attacking tank-infantry forces when the guns of the tank jammed. Bazooka and sniper fire were extremely heavy in the town, and at this point, Sergeant Parker saw a bazooka team about to fire on the defenseless tank. Without regard for his personal safety, he flung open the hatch of the tank, exposing himself to the bazooka and sniper fire, and eliminated the enemy team with his carbine, saving the tank and its crew from destruction.
His courage and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the Armed forces of the United States. Entered the service from Ohio.
Signed: Robert C. Macon, Major General, U.S. Army, Commanding.
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