Laverne Parrish
Laverne Parrish (July 16, 1918 – January 24, 1945) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.
Laverne Parrish | |
|---|---|
 Technician Fourth Grade Laverne Parrish | |
| Born | July 16, 1918 Knox City, Missouri |
| Died | January 24, 1945 (aged 26) near San Manuel, Luzon, Philippines |
| Place of burial | Mountain View Cemetery, Ronan, Montana |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1941–1945 |
| Rank | Technician Fourth Grade |
| Unit | 161st Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Biography
Parrish joined the Army from Ronan, Montana in March 1941,[1] and by January 18, 1945 was serving as a technician fourth grade in the Medical Detachment of the 161st Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. On that day, at Binalonan on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, he exposed himself to enemy fire in order to aid two wounded soldiers. Six days later, on January 24, near San Manuel, he again braved hostile fire to tend to the wounded, carrying five men to safety and treating dozens more before being mortally wounded himself. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor six months later, on July 13, 1945.[2]
Parrish, aged 26 at his death, was buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Ronan, Montana.
Medal of Honor citation
Technician Parrish's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
He was medical aid man with Company C during the fighting in Binalonan, Luzon, Philippine Islands. 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.
References
- WWII Army Enlistment Records
- Tribune Staff. "125 Montana Newsmakers: Medal of Honor Winners". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
- Laverne Parrish, Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients at Find a Grave
- "Medal of Honor recipients – World War II (M–S)". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. Retrieved 2007-11-13.